October 20, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Nov. 22, 2021, for the arraignment over alleged fraud of a former Aviation minister, Stella Oduah.
Although Oduah, who currently represents Anambra north senatorial district in the National Assembly, was scheduled for arraignment before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday, the proceeding could not take place because it was a public holiday.
However, a check at the court on Wednesday revealed that the matter has been fixed for Nov. 22 for trial.
Justice Ekwo had, on July 12, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the former minister if she fails to appear in court by the next adjourned date (October 19).
The judge had given the warning after Dr Hassan Liman, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the alleged N5 billion fraud case against Oduah and eight others told the court that Oduah and one other defendant were not in court to make their plea.
The court had earlier fixed Feb. 9 for the arraignment of the former minister. However, due to the fact that she was not served with the court processes then, the arraignment could not go on.
The court also fixed April 19 for the arraignment but this did not hold because of the strike action embarked on by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The lawmaker is facing a fraud charge alongside others in a suit with number FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20.
The EFCC alleges that Oduah misappropriated public funds to the tune of N5 billion while serving as the minister of aviation.
