Table of Contents
Controversial Nigerian politician and businesswoman Stella Oduah is facing a N5-billion ($46.28 million) fraud allegation alongside eight other individuals. The defendants were brought to court by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Earlier, Oduah received a warning from Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court, who threatened to issue an arrest warrant for her after she failed to appear in court on July 12.
The court had previously scheduled the arraignment of the former minister and her accomplices for Feb. 9, Sahara Reporters reported. However, the arraignment could not take place as the court was unable to serve Oduah. The arraignment was once again postponed on April 19 due to a strike by the Judiciary Staff Union.
Stella Oduah
Oduah is a one-time aviation minister, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Before becoming a politician, Oduah worked at the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. She resigned in 1992 to establish Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Limited, an independent marketer of petroleum products in Nigeria.
By 2017, her business empire had expanded substantially, although indebtedness triggered the Lagos High Court to freeze 21 accounts belonging to four of her companies, including Sea Petroleum and Gas, Sea Shipping Agency, Rotary Engineering Services and Tour Afrique. The court froze the corporate accounts as a result of debt allegations to the tune of $16 million and N10 billion ($92.57 million), Punch reported.
Oduah is currently a senator representing the Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly and Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
