An Abuja High Court has set November 22 for the arraignment of former Nigerian Aviation Minister Stella Oduah on allegations of fraud while she was in office.
Oduah, who currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was supposed to be arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday, but the hearing was canceled due to a public holiday.
However, a check at the court on Wednesday revealed that, despite not being on the cause list, the matter had been scheduled for trial on November 22 and November 23.
On July 12, Justice Ekwo threatened to issue an arrest warrant for the former minister if she did not appear in court by the next adjourned date (October 19).
The judge issued the warning after Dr. Hassan Liman, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court in the alleged N5 billion trial against Oduah and eight others that Oduah and one other defendant were not present to enter their pleas.
The former minister’s arraignment had been scheduled for February 9 by the court.
However, because she was not served with the court processes at the time, the arraignment could not take place.
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The court also scheduled the arraignment for April 19, but it was canceled due to a strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The lawmaker is charged with fraud, along with others, in the case of FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20.
The anti-corruption agency claims that Oduah misappropriated N5 billion in public funds while serving as Minister of Aviation.
When the case was called on the most recent adjourned date, Liman, who stated that the case was scheduled for arraignment, stated that the anti-corruption agency had carried out the court order issued on February 9.
“On February 22, 2020, my lord issued an order of substituted service on the trial’s fifth and sixth defendants.”
