Stella Oduah Cleared as Firms Linked to Her Plead Guilty, Forfeit N1.98bn in Fraud Case

Stella Oduah has been cleared as firms linked to her plead guilty and forfeited N1.98bn in fraud case.

 

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has been discharged from a N2.5 billion fraud case after two companies linked to her pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit funds to the Federal Government.

 

The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

 

Charges against Oduah and her former aide, Gloria Odita, were struck out after the prosecution amended the case to focus solely on the companies; Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited.

 

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Both firms pleaded guilty to the amended charges and were subsequently convicted. Justice Muazu ordered their dissolution and the forfeiture of N1.98 billion to the Federal Government.

 

Prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed that the amended two-count charge followed plea negotiations. According to the charges, Sobora International unlawfully held N838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine was found in possession of N1.629 billion in illicit funds.

 

Oduah appeared in court representing the companies and entered guilty pleas on their behalf, while the defence did not oppose the request for conviction and forfeiture.

 

The court directed that N1.2 billion paid as restitution alongside N780 million recovered during investigations be handed over to the Federal Government.

 

The case, which commenced in December 2025, initially involved a five-count charge bordering on fraud, breach of trust, and obtaining money under false pretence. Prosecutors alleged that about N2.4 billion was obtained through companies linked to Oduah in relation to contracts awarded during her tenure as aviation minister between 2011 and 2014.

 

Although both Oduah and Odita initially pleaded not guilty, the matter was later resolved through a plea agreement that led to the amended charges and conviction of the companies.