Senator Stella Oduah is in trouble as Sterling Bank had obtained an interim order freezing the accounts of her companies in 21 commercial banks in Nigeria over 16.4 million dollars debt.

Justice Abdulaziz Anka, who made the freezing order, barred Oduah and the directors of the four companies from making any withdrawal from their bank accounts.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned hearing till November 8, 2017 in an alleged debt recovery suit filed against the former Minister of Aviation. The bank alleged that Oduah and four companies linked to her owed it $16,412,819.06 and N100,493,225.59.

Court papers revealed that the companies involved are Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Limited; Sea Shipping Agency Limited, Rotary Engineering Services Limited, and Tour Afrique Company Limited.

The bank, in an affidavit deposed to by one of its managers, Mr. Segun Akinsanya, averred that the debt stemmed from a loan of  $10,069,620.25 granted Sea Petroleum and Gas Company on October 8, 2012, to finance one unit 5,000MT tanker vessel.

Adesanya further averred that the company also obtained other loans of $449,600.00, $642,954.00 and $350,000. He said the bank resorted to filing the suit following the alleged refusal of the oil company to liquidate the loans, which stood at $16,412,819.06 and N100,493,225.59 as of November 2016.