Justice Hamza Muazu struck out the case on Thursday after the prosecution informed the court that the value of the disputed funds had been returned.
Aformer Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, has been discharged by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja after the Nigerian government confirmed the recovery of funds linked to the fraud allegations against her, bringing an abrupt end to her prosecution.
Justice Hamza Muazu struck out the case on Thursday after the prosecution informed the court that the value of the disputed funds had been returned.
Oduah, who was standing trial alongside her former aide, Gloria Odita, had faced allegations tied to multi-billion naira transactions involving companies connected to the aviation ministry.
In his ruling, Justice Muazu declared, “The charge dated October 13, 2025, is hereby struck out, and the defendants are accordingly discharged.”
Earlier, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court he was acting on the directive of the Attorney-General of the Federation to confirm that the government had received restitution.
I have the instruction of the Attorney-General of the Federation to inform your Lordship that the state confirms receipt of the value of the subject matter of this charge,” Oyedepo said.
Following the announcement, the prosecution amended the charge to retain only two companies, Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited, effectively removing Oduah and Odita as defendants.
The development comes amid earlier revelations by SaharaReporters that the resolution of the case may have been influenced by political considerations.
On March 8, 2026, SaharaReporters reported that the Tinubu Presidency allegedly “rewarded” Oduah’s defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with a N1.54billion settlement arrangement in a broader N5billion fraud case, according to sources.
Oduah had entered into discussions with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) over allegations involving the misappropriation of approximately N5billion in public funds.
She and Odita were initially arraigned on December 10, 2025, on a five-count charge filed by the AGF’s office over transactions that allegedly took place between January and February 2014 during her tenure as aviation minister under former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
The prosecution alleged that both defendants conspired to obtain about N2.46billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through companies, including Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited, under the guise of providing technical supervision and security logistics services.
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