- Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has approached the Attorney-General of the Federation to negotiate a plea bargain in her ongoing ₦2.5 billion fraud trial.
- The prosecution confirmed that Oduah and her co-defendant have already made moves to refund a significant portion of the allegedly stolen funds into government coffers to settle the matter.
- Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the case until March 26, 2026, to allow both parties to finalize the confirmation of bank drafts and provide a report on the settlement progress.
Former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah has indicated her willingness to return funds allegedly stolen from the government.
Eko Hot Blog reports that during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, March 5, 2026, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, revealed that Oduah and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita, have initiated a plea bargain process under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
EDITOR’S PICK
- 540 Candidates Cleared as Lagos APC Moves to Elect LGA Executives
- Court Sentences Pastor to Death for Killing UniUyo Student
- Lagos Teacher Questions Lack of Recognition for One-Day Governor Mentors
The core of the negotiations involves the return of money the government claims was misappropriated during Oduah’s tenure.
Oyedepo informed the court that the defendants have already taken steps to refund specific amounts, and the government is currently awaiting final confirmation of the bank drafts.
This move signals a significant shift in the case, as both defendants had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them by the Federal Government.
The legal battle stems from allegations that in early 2014, Oduah and Odita conspired to fraudulently obtain nearly ₦2.5 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
According to the charges, the funds were disguised as payments for “Cost of Technical Supervision” and “Security Integrated and Logistics Support Services” through two private entities, Broad Waters Resources Nigeria Ltd and Global Offshore Marine Ltd.
The prosecution argues that these claims were entirely false and that the money was dishonestly misappropriated through unauthorized transfers.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Onyechi Ikpeazu, representing Oduah, confirmed that discussions regarding the settlement are very much active.
Justice Hamza Muazu, presiding over the matter, acknowledged the ongoing negotiations and decided to pause the commencement of a full trial to see if the parties can reach a definitive agreement.
By adjourning the case to late March, the court has provided a window for the executive branch to verify the payments and determine if the terms of the plea bargain meet the requirements for justice and restitution.
This development is being closely watched as it highlights the government’s continued use of plea bargains to recover public funds in a more efficient manner than protracted litigation.
For Oduah, who has faced multiple corruption-related investigations over the last decade, the successful conclusion of this deal could mean avoiding the maximum penalties associated with the Advance Fee Fraud Act and the Penal Code.
As the March 26 deadline approaches, the focus will be on the final amount returned to the treasury and whether the settlement will be accepted as full restitution for the alleged breach of official trust.
