Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah’s arraignment over N7.9 billion money laundering charges stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, May 10th, 2022.

The senator who was personally present in court along with her other eight co-defendants, could not be put in the dock following the inability of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, to give a definite go-ahead with the arraignment.

Counsel to the Federal Government, Dr. Hassan Liman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, had tendered a letter from the AGF’s office and demanded that the accused persons be ordered to take their plea.

He drew the attention of the court to the fact that the charge against them was filed since December 17, 2020, by the Federal Government while efforts to arraign them have been unsuccessful.

Liman’s attention was however drawn to a portion in the AGF’s letter of May 6, 2022, to the effect that his office was still looking into the issues raised by one of the defendants in the matter.

Justice Inyang Ekwo who was to give the order for the plea to be taken insisted that the AGF be given time to take a definite position in order not to embark on an exercise that may be in futility in the end.

Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed October 12 and 13 for the plea of the defendants to be taken and for trial.

For those who don’t know, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the charges alleged that Stella Oduah misappropriated the N7.9 billion public funds while serving as a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime.

Other defendants are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore, and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited, and a foreign construction company.