Former aviation minister, Stella Oduah appears in court over N7.9bn fraud charges

Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, has appeared in the Federal High Court in Abuja to take her plea in the alleged N7.9 billion fraud charges brought against her by the Federal Government to avoid arrest.

Her arraignment had before now been stalled five times due to her persistent absence in court and public holiday.

Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo had on July 12 threatened to issue a warrant of arrest for Mrs Stella Oduah should she fail to make herself available for arraignment on the then adjourned date of October 19, which later fell on holiday.

The arrest threat was issued following her nonappearance to honour court proceedings of July 12 without any explanation from her side.

The last attempt to dock her on Tuesday, October 19, for the money laundering case was scuttled by the Eid-el Maulud holiday declared by the Federal Government to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

It was gathered that Stella Oduah arrived in court as early as 8 am to face trial on a 25-count charge, alongside four others.

Senator Oduah was accompanied to court by a retinue of security details, friends, and political associates.

For those who don’t know, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is accusing her of misappropriating N7.9 billion public funds while serving as a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime.