The trial of Senator Stella Oduah for alleged 7 billion Naira fraud while she held office as Minister of Aviation, will finally proceed in February next year.
When the matter was called up on Wednesday before Justice Inyang Ekwo, the Prosecution Lawyer, Hassan Liman, SAN, presented a letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, dated 11 October, directing the EFCC to proceed with the trial, as investigations had been concluded.
This is even as the agency has the power to prosecute without any sort of external directive.
Oduah is being prosecuted on 25 counts of money laundering and financial misappropriation, alongside Gloria Odita, Nwobu Nnamdi, Chukuma Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited and the China Civil Engineering Construction Company Limited.
They are being charged with conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.
Hearing on the case had been stalled about six times before, due to the absence of the first defendant.
The Federal Attorney General had sometime earlier, requested the case file from the EFCC.
Liman who told the court that all other parties in the suit had also been served the letter, indicating readiness to begin the case, also stated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has 32 witnesses to prosecute in the course of the trial.
Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned to February 13 to 17, 2023 for trial.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
