FORMER Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has been discharged by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja after a plea bargain arrangement led to the withdrawal of fraud charges against her, effectively bringing an end to her trial over an alleged N2.4 billion scandal.
News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Hamza Muazu delivered the ruling on Thursday at the Maitama division of the court, following a decision by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF) to discontinue the case against the former minister and her ex-aide, Gloria Odita.
The prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that parties had reached a plea bargain agreement, prompting the filing of an amended charge.
Under the revised charge, only two companies linked to Oduah—Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited—were retained as defendants.
The initial charges, which directly implicated Oduah and her aide, were subsequently withdrawn.
In the amended two-count charge, Sobora International Limited was accused of unlawfully possessing N838 million, while Global Offshore and Marine Limited was alleged to have unlawfully held N1.629 billion.
When the case resumed, Oduah appeared in court as a representative of the companies and entered a guilty plea on their behalf.
Following the plea, the prosecution urged the court to convict the firms, order their winding up, and direct the forfeiture of funds recovered during the investigation.
Specifically, the prosecution requested that N1.2 billion—paid as restitution—and an additional N780 million recovered by investigators be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Counsel to the companies, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), did not oppose the application.
In his ruling, Justice Muazu convicted the companies based on their guilty plea and ordered that they be wound up.
He also granted the request for forfeiture, directing that the N1.2 billion restitution and the N780 million recovered be handed over to the Federal Government.
Subsequently, the judge struck out the earlier charge dated October 13, 2025, which included Oduah and her aide as defendants, and formally discharged them from the case.
The ruling effectively brings to a close a high-profile corruption case that had drawn national attention due to Oduah’s status as a former cabinet member.
While the companies linked to her have been convicted and ordered dissolved, the former minister now walks free, marking a significant turning point in the long-running legal battle.