Judiciary & Court
Court fixes Nov. 22 for Stella Oduah’s trial
A Federal High Court, Abuja has set Wednesday, November 22, 2021 as the date for the arraignment of Senator Stella Oduah over allegations of fraud while she served as the minister of aviation from 2011 to 2014.
Oduah currently serves as the senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
Her trial was initially scheduled to hold before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday, October 19.
However, it was postponed due to a public holiday.
It was gathered that Justice Ekwo had, on July 12, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the former minister if she failed to appear in court by the next adjourned date (Oct. 19).
The judge had given the warning after Dr Hassan Liman, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the alleged N5 billion trial against Oduah and eight others told the court that Oduah and one other defendant were not in court to take their plea.
NAN also reports that the court had earlier fixed Feb. 9 for the arraignment of the former minister.
But due to the fact that she was not served with the court processes then, the arraignment could not go on.
The court also fixed April 19 for the arraignment but due to the strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), the matter could not hold.
The lawmaker is facing a fraud charge alongside others in a suit with number: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20.
The anti-corruption agency is alleging that Oduah misappropriated public funds to the tune of N5 billion while serving as Minister of Aviation.
When the matter was called in the last adjourned date, Liman, who informed that the case was scheduled for arraignment, said the anti-corruption agency had carried out the court order made on Feb. 9.
“On Feb. 22, 2020, my lord made an order of substituted service on the 5th and 6th defendants in the trial.
“We have carried out the order my lord,” he had said.
