Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has entered into settlement discussions with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation over a five-count criminal charge alleging the misappropriation of approximately ₦5 billion in public funds during her tenure as minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan. Oduah and her former aide, Gloria Odita, were arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on 10 December 2025, with prosecutors alleging that the two defendants conspired to obtain approximately ₦2.46 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through two companies — Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited — by falsely claiming the funds were for technical supervision and security-integrated logistics support services. Specifically, ₦839.7 million was allegedly obtained through Broad Waters Resource under the guise of technical supervision costs, while ₦1.62 billion was obtained through Global Offshore Marine for purported security support. The alleged offences occurred between January and February 2014.
Sources familiar with the matter said the AGF’s office, led by Lateef Fagbemi, had proposed that Oduah pay ₦1.54 billion to secure a resolution — a figure that critics described as a politically motivated settlement rather than a formal plea bargain. The sources alleged that the case was withdrawn from the EFCC to facilitate the process, reportedly tied to Oduah’s alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress, which she joined in August 2021 after leaving the PDP. During proceedings last Thursday, Director of Public Prosecutions Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed that both defendants had approached the AGF’s office to negotiate a plea agreement, and that part of the proposed arrangement included the refund of funds believed to have been unlawfully obtained. Justice Hamza Muazu subsequently adjourned proceedings to 26 March to allow both sides time to engage and report back to the court on the outcome or proceed with trial.
Oduah’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, confirmed that discussions were ongoing, as did counsel representing the second defendant. Sources alleged that the AGF had effectively compromised the ₦5 billion suit originally filed by the EFCC, noting that despite being directed by an Abuja court in July 2023 to take over the case, the AGF’s office never pursued further legal action or allowed the EFCC’s case to progress. The allegations against Oduah are not new: as far back as October 2013, documents emerged showing that she pressured the cash-strapped Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to purchase two armoured BMW 760 Li vehicles for her personal use at a combined cost of ₦255.15 million — vehicles that independent assessments at the time suggested could have been procured at a fraction of the price.
