Court threatens arrest of ex aviation minister, Stella Oduah
THE Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of a former aviation minister, Stella Oduah, if she fails to present herself for trial on October 19, being the date fixed for her arraignment in an alleged N10 billion fraud.
Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo issued the threat, yesterday, following the persistent refusal of the former minister, especially yesterday, to honour proceedings.
Oduah, now a senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, was to be arraigned on a 25- count charge. She, alongside four defendants, was however not in court.
When the matter came up, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Dr Hassan Liman, informed that all the defendants had been served with the charges as ordered by court and expressed disgust that the former minister was again absent without any excuse.
He said 32 witnesses had been lined up to testify against her, besides eight others, to establish the fraud charges.
Ekwo, while fixing October 19 to dock the former minister and kick- start the trial, warned the absentee defendants to be in court on the date or have a bench warrant issued for their arrest.
Others listed for trial alongside Oduah, as defendants, in the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/ CR/ 316/ 2020 are: Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation ( CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.