The planned arraignment of former minister of aviation Stella Adaeze
Oduah before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja could
not commence due to the absence some of the suspects. Though Odua who is
Senator representing Anambra North in the National Assembly was present
in court, the fifth and sixth defendant in the charge were alsent.
Odua was schedule to be arraigned on a 25-count charge of money
laundering alongside Gloria Odita, Nwobu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukuma Irene
Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Crystal Television
Limited, Sobora International Limited and China Civil Engineering
Construction Company Limited (CCECC).
One of the Counts read; “That you Stella Adaeze Oduah whilst being the
Minister of Aviation, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Gloria Odita
whilst being the Company Secretary to Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd
(SPGC), and an aide to the former Minister of Aviation on or about the
12th day of February, 2014 at Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division
of this Honourable Court used your positions to transfer the sum of N1,
629,250,000.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty Nine Million, Two
Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) from 1-Sec Security Nig. Ltd
account No. 2021756955 with First Bank Plc to Global Offshore and Marine
Ltd account No. 2022977296 also domiciled with First Bank Plc, which
money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of
an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section
15(2) (6) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended)
and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.
When the case was mentioned, prosecuting counsel Hassan Liman, SAN,
informed the court that the Commission tried every means possible but
was unable to serve the fifth and sixth defendants with the court
processes. He therefore applied for additional fourteen days to serve
them,
Justice Ekwo granted his prayer and adjourned till April 19, 2021 for
arraignment.