“Stella Oduah, Co-Defendant Have Begun Refunding Funds Linked to N2.4bn Fraud” — DPPF Tells Court

Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, and her co-defendant Gloria Odita have started returning a portion of the N2.4 billion linked to ongoing fraud allegations.

Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public prosecution of the federation (DPPF), confirmed the development Thursday during a resumed session at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Oduah, who served from July 2011 to February 2014, and Odita were arraigned on December 10 on five-count charges, including alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust. Both pleaded not guilty.

Oyedepo told the court, “The defendants have made a move to refund some of the money,” noting that the government is awaiting confirmation that the funds have been received. He did not specify the amount involved.

Counsel to the defendants—Onyechi Ikpeazu for Oduah and Favour Osunaya for Odita—acknowledged the refund process but declined to provide further details.

Presiding judge Hamza Muazu adjourned the case to March 26 for a progress report on the refund and related discussions.

The development comes weeks after the defendants applied for plea bargaining with the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) under section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. The law allows defendants to negotiate reduced charges, lighter sentences, or restitution in criminal cases.

This refund initiative marks the first formal step by the defendants toward resolving the matter outside a full trial.