Stella Oduah, the former Minister of Aviation, has taken steps to refund part of the alleged misappropriated funds to the Nigerian government during settlement negotiations concerning the fraud charges totaling N2.5 billion filed against her and her associate.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, addressed the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, revealing that both Ms Oduah and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita, are involved in the refund process.
“The defendants have initiated the return of a certain portion of the funds to the government,” stated Oyedepo, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
While the specific amount returned has not been disclosed, he mentioned that the remaining step involves the government confirming receipt of the bank draft regarding the refund.
Defense counsels Onyechi Ikpeazu, representing Ms Oduah, and Favour Osunaya, representing Ms Odita, confirmed Mr. Oyedepo’s statements, yet did not provide additional information about the refund.
Ms Oduah and her co-defendant appeared in court on Thursday but did not make any statements outside of their lawyers' comments.
After reviewing the submissions from the lawyers, trial judge Hamza Muazu postponed the case until March 26 to receive a status report.
This latest development occurs three weeks after both the defense and prosecution informed the court of a plea bargain-related application submitted by the defendants to the Attorney-General of the Federation concerning the charges of fraud related to the N2.5 billion.
According to Oyedepo, Ms Oduah’s application was presented in accordance with Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
“Though the trial was set to begin, the AGF received a request from the first defendant for discussions prior to the commencement of the trial, following the stipulations outlined in Section 270 of the ACJA 2015,” Oyedepo explained during proceedings on February 12.
Terms of agreement remain undisclosed
The specifics of the plea bargain application have not been made public. Section 270 of the ACJA deals with plea bargaining and establishes conditions for engaging in such negotiations when a defendant is charged with a criminal offense.
Plea bargaining is a legal practice where a defendant agrees to plead guilty, often to lesser charges, in exchange for potential leniency from the prosecutor, which might include reduced sentences or the dismissal of certain charges to circumvent a trial.
According to legal provisions, plea bargaining can also occur if the defendant consents to return proceeds from criminal activity or make restitution to victims or their representatives.
However, since the details surrounding the refund agreement have yet to be revealed, it remains uncertain if the resolution will involve a plea bargain requiring the defendants to plead guilty for a lighter sentence or if it will entail a complete withdrawal of the charges.
Charges
On December 10, 2025, the Attorney-General of the Federation charged Ms Oduah and her co-defendant with five counts related to the N2.5 billion fraud.
Both were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court alongside Ms Odita, who is also facing a concurrent trial involving N5 billion in a separate money laundering case in another court.
The charges allege that both individuals committed the fraud in January 2014, roughly a month prior to Ms Oduah's removal from office due to procurement irregularities.
Serving as Minister of Aviation from July 2, 2011, to February 12, 2014, under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ms Oduah also held two terms as a Senator representing Anambra North from 2015 to 2023.
The five charges against Ms Oduah and Ms Odita assert they deceitfully secured N2.5 billion, concealed as expenditures for technical supervision and security from the Ministry of Aviation.
One of the allegations accuses the defendants of acquiring “the enormous sum” of N2.5 billion (specifically N2,469,030,738.9) from the federal aviation ministry “through Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited using deceptive practices.”
The prosecution claims that the defendants were aware that labeling the funds as costs of “technical supervision and security integrated and logistics support services” was false.
The charge indicates that their actions contravened sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, punishable under Section 1(3) of that Act.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against them after they were read in court.
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