Stella Oduah, a former minister of Aviation will be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at a federal high court in Abuja on July 21.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the former minister is being prosecuted for corruption by the anti-graft agency alongside Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after EFCC’s counsel, Hassan Liman, SAN), prayed the court to allow the defendants to take their pleas, having filed the charge against them on December 17, 2020.
Others being prosecuted with Oduah include Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, and Sobora International Limited.
The senator, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District at the Ninth National Assembly, was scheduled to be arraigned for alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation while she served as Aviation Minister during the Goodluck Jonathan Administration.
In the 25-count charge filed against them, the EFCC accused them of conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.
Upon resumed hearing, Liman recalled that on June 15, the court drew the attention of counsel to a letter or petition written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) against Justice Ekwo and the judge gave a directive to the EFCC to investigate to unravel the identity of the persons.
He said the commission had carried out the investigation and was able to trace the identity of the person via the telephone number.
According to the lawyer, he is said to be Okolo Obinna Johnson, a promoter of two companies.
Liman said the effort was made through the search and linked the Bank Verification Number (BVN) of the suspect via the telephone number submitted and that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) cooperated with the EFCC.
The lawyer said the anti-graft agency made all efforts to track the person, in conjunction with other security agencies, but were yet to be successful.
“This is how far the commission has gone in carrying out the directive of the court,” he said.
Liman assured the court that the EFCC would not leave any stone unturned in bringing the culprit to justice.
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