Stella Oduah Cleared as Firms Forfeit N1.98bn in Fraud Case

Stella Oduah, the former Minister of Aviation, was cleared of a N2.5 billion fraud case when two companies linked to her, Sobora International and Global Offshore Marine, pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit N1.98 billion. The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Justice Hamza Muazu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

The charges against Oduah's former aide, Gloria Odita, were struck out as part of a plea agreement. The companies were convicted of unlawfully holding N838 million and possessing N1.629 billion in illicit funds.

Oduah appeared in court to represent the companies and did not oppose the request for conviction and forfeiture. The court ordered N1.2 billion to be paid in restitution alongside N780 million recovered during the investigation.

The case commenced in December 2025, involving five counts of fraud and breach of trust related to contracts awarded during Oduah's tenure as Minister of Aviation from 2011 to 2014.