The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on N5 billion corruption charges.
She was put on trial by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, on five counts relating to advance fee fraud and conspiracy.
In one of the counts, Stella Oduah was accused of obtaining, by fraudulent pretences, a sum of N2.4 billion through Broad Waters Resources from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
She was said to have fraudulently claimed that the money represented the cost of technical supervision.
The alleged fraud was said to have been perpetrated in January 2014.
In another count, Stella Oduah was alleged to have collected N1.6 billion and a further N839 million through the same means, contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
The former minister, who was docked along with one other accused person, however denied the charges.
Justice Hamza Muazu admitted her to bail on self-recognisance, but ordered that she must deposit her travelling passport with the court and must not travel outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.
Legal luminary Onyechi Ikpeazu represented the former minister during the arraignment.
