On Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought forth a 25-count charge against Senator Stella Oduah, the former Minister of Aviation, as she was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Facing trial, Oduah, who held the position of Aviation Minister from 2011 to 2014, stands accused of being involved in a conspiracy with eight others to launder approximately 7.9 billion in public funds.

The charge with reference number FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20 also includes the following defendants: Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, and Sobora International Ltd.

During the court session presided by trial Justice Inyang Ekwo, all the defendants were brought before the court and pleaded not guilty when the charges were read aloud in open court.

According to the allegations by the anti-graft agency, Oduah, who also represented Anambra North in the Senate, and Odita, identified as an aide and the Company Secretary to Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd (SPGC), are accused of engaging in illicit activities. Specifically, in February 2014, they allegedly utilized their positions to transfer the sum of N1,629,250,000.00 from I-Sec Security Nig. Ltd account No. 2021756955 with First Bank Plc to Global Offshore and Marine Ltd account No. 2022977296, also held with First Bank Plc. The agency claims that they should have reasonably known that these funds were part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

Furthermore, the defendants are charged with the offense of opening a naira "anonymous Private Banking Nominee Account No. 2024414450 with First Bank Plc," which is considered a violation of Section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended) and is punishable under Section 11(4)(a) of the same Act.

They were also accused of creating a United States dollar "anonymous Private Banking Nominee account No. 2024414498 with First Bank Plc," which is considered an offense under Section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended) and is punishable under Section 11(4)(a) of the same Act.

After the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges, trial Justice Ekwo permitted them to return home on the administrative bail that the EFCC had previously granted to them.

Furthermore, the court instructed the EFCC to transfer the case file to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure the diligent prosecution of the defendants.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the case for trial, setting the new date as October 17.

As a reminder, the charge was filed in 2020, but the EFCC couldn't arraign the defendants due to a petition they sent to the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN.

Malami requested the court to suspend the trial temporarily to allow him to review the case file. However, he later granted the EFCC permission to proceed with the trial of the defendants.