₦2.5bn Fra¥d Wahala: Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah Say She Ready to Return Government Money as Plea Bargain Talk Start for Court

Serious gbege show for Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday as former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah tell court say she ready to return some money wey government say disappear from treasury. The whole matter na about alleged ₦2.5 billion fraud case wey dey drag since.

According to people wey dey inside court, Stella Oduah and one of her associates don show interest to settle the matter through plea bargain. For those wey no sabi grammar, plea bargain mean say person go agree say something no clear for the matter and go settle with government—sometimes by returning money—so that court wahala no go too long.

Many Nigerians dey follow the story with one eye open and the other one half close, because anytime big politician talk say dem wan “return money,” people dey always wonder how the money take waka comot for the first place.

Attorney-General Office Confirm Say Minister Stella Settlement Talk Don Start

For court, Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo tell judge say the defendants don already reach out to the office of the Attorney-General to start discussion on how the matter fit settle.

According to Oyedepo, part of the arrangement be say Minister Stella go refund some of the money wey government believe say dem collect wrongly. He even talk say dem don already arrange bank draft for the refund, but government still dey confirm whether the money don land for the right account.

Lawyers for both sides no deny the gist. Stella Oduah’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, confirm say negotiation still dey go on. Another lawyer, Favour Osuanya, wey represent the second defendant, also talk say plea bargain discussion dey happen behind the scenes.

Court Postpone Minister Stella Case as Nigerians Dey Watch the Drama

Because Minister Stella Oduah settlement talk still dey happen, the presiding judge, Hamza Muazu, decide say make everybody calm down small. He shift the case go March 26 so the court fit hear update on whether the negotiation go succeed or not.

Stella Oduah and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita, originally face charges over alleged ₦2.469 billion fraud linked to contracts during Oduah time as Aviation Minister around 2014. Prosecutors claim say the money pass through two companies under the claim say na for “technical supervision” and “security logistics support.”

Government lawyers also accuse the former minister say she approve transfer of money meant for security contract in a way wey break the trust of her office. As the matter stand now, Nigerians dey wait to see whether the refund go end the courtroom gbas-gbos or whether the legal drama go continue like long-running Nollywood series.