Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah and co-defendant Gloria Odita have started refunding part of the alleged ₦2.5 billion involved in fraud charges, as plea bargain negotiations with the Federal Government continue.
The update came Thursday at the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, where Director of Public Prosecution Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) told Justice Hamza Muazu that the defendants had initiated returns to government accounts.
"The defendants have made a move to refund a certain amount of the money into the government coffers," Oyedepo said, noting confirmation of the bank draft receipt is pending. He did not specify the refunded sum.
Defence counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for Oduah and Favour Osunaya for Odita confirmed the step but offered no further details.
Both defendants attended but spoke only through their lawyers.The judge adjourned the case to March 26, 2026, for a progress report on the plea bargain.
This follows the defendants' earlier application under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, allowing negotiations—often involving guilty pleas to reduced charges, lighter sentences, or restitution in exchange for returning crime proceeds.
Oduah and Odita were arraigned in December 2025 on five counts of fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust. Prosecutors allege they fraudulently obtained about ₦2.4 billion (frequently rounded to ₦2.5 billion in reports) from the Federal Ministry of Aviation via Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd.Both pleaded not guilty.
Oduah served as Aviation Minister from July 2011 to February 2014.The partial refund signals progress toward possible resolution, though full terms remain undisclosed pending the next hearing.
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