The Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah if she fails to make herself available for trial on October 19 in an alleged N10 billion fraud.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the threat on Monday, following the persistent refusal of the former Minister, to honour court proceedings.
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Stella Oduah, now a senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District was billed to be arraigned on Monday on a 25-count charge but she was not in court along with other 4th defendants.
When the matter came up, counsel for the EFCC, Hassan Liman informed the court that all the defendants have been served with the charges as ordered by the court only that Oduah is again not in court without any excuse.
He said that 32 witnesses have been lined up to testify against her and 8 others in order to establish the fraud charges against them.
Justice Ekwo while fixing October 19 for the trial, warned the defendants to be in court on the date or have a bench warrant issued for their arrest.
Other defendants in the charge are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Nnamdi, Chukwuma Chinyere, Global Offshore, and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited.
They are facing a 24-count charge of conspiracy, money laundering, and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with First Bank Plc.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
