Alleged N10bn Fraud: Judge Threatens to Arrest Oduah, Others over Absence from Court

A Federal High in Abuja has threatened to issue arrest warrants against former Aviation Minister, Senator Stellah Oduah and eight others named in a charge should they fail to attend court on the next date.

Justice Inyang Ekwo made the threat yesterday when Oduah (a Senator, representing Anambra North) and some other defendants were absent at the proceedings, with no explanation from their lawyers.

In the charge marked: FHC/ ABJ/CR/316/2020, Oduah, 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, are the defendants.

In the 25-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the nine defendants are accused, among others, of engaging in the laundering of about N10 billion.

They are particularly charged with conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with an old generation bank.

At the mention of the case on Monday, the court noted only the second and third defendants (Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi) were present.

The development prompted the prosecuting lawyer, Hassan Liman (SAN), to complain about the absence of the other defendants, without any explanation from their lawyers.

Justice Ekwo noted the court’s business for the day was for the prosecution to report its compliance with an earlier order granting leave for it to effect substituted service of the charge on the fifth and sixth defendants.

“When trial is fixed and they are not hear, you can then complain,” the judge told the Liman, who reported that the prosecution has complied with the order of substituted service.

The judge observed, as earlier noted by the prosecution, that beside the second and third defendants, the others were absent.

“This is a note of warning that warrants of arrest would be issued at the next date against any defendant, who is absent,” Justice Ekwo said.