TheCable

The office attorney-general of the federation (AGF) has taken over the prosecution of Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, in the “N5 billion fraud” trial.

At the resumed session on Tuesday, David Kaswe, chief state counsel from the AGF’s office, told the court that a letter had been sent to the Economic and Finacial Crimes Commission (EFCC) requesting the case file of the defendants.

Other defendants in the suit are Gloria Odita; Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi; Chukwuma Irene Chinyere; Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd; Crystal Television Ltd; Sobora International Ltd and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.

But Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, said the letter to the EFCC was unnecessary since the taking over the matter by the office of the AGF complies with an order issued by the court.

The judge said the EFCC was bound to obey the order.

Kaswe told the judge that his office took into cognisance the fact that the EFCC had just had a change of leadership.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned until March 28, 2024.

The EFCC had filed a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020 in 2020, alleging that Oduah misappropriated public funds estimated at N5 billion while serving as minister.

While the case has come up for arraignment many times between 2021 and 2023, it was stalled for several reasons. Eventually, the defendants were arraigned on July 21.

Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 25-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining anonymous accounts with First Bank Plc, and were granted bail.

Ekwo had also directed the AGF to take over the prosecution of the case.