NIGERIA NEWS
Again, ex-Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah arraigned on N5bn corruption charges
The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on N5 billion corruption charges.
She was put on trial by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, on five counts relating to advance fee fraud and conspiracy.
In one of the counts, Stella Oduah was accused of obtaining, by fraudulent pretences, a sum of N2.4 billion through Broad Waters Resources from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
She was said to have fraudulently claimed that the money represented the cost of technical supervision.
The alleged fraud was said to have been perpetrated in January 2014.
In another count, Stella Oduah was alleged to have collected N1.6 billion and a further N839 million through the same means, contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
The former minister, who was docked along with one other accused person, however denied the charges.
Justice Hamza Muazu admitted her to bail on self-recognisance, but ordered that she must deposit her travelling passport with the court and must not travel outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.
Legal luminary Onyechi Ikpeazu represented the former minister during the arraignment.
The Attorney-General of the Federation’s office on Wednesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah on N2.5 billion fraud charges.
She was arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja alongside Gloria Odita, with whom the former minister faces another pending N5 billion money laundering trial before another court.
Wednesday’s charges alleged that the two defendants committed the offence in January 2014, just about a month before Ms Oduah was forced out of office over a procurement scandal.
Ms Oduah served as Minister of Aviation from 2 July 2011 to 12 February 2014 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. She also represented Anambra North Senatorial twice, in 2015 and 2019.
The five charges filed against her and her co-defendant accused them of fraudulently obtaining N2.5 billion disguised as cost of technical supervision and security from the Ministry of Aviation.
One the counts alleged that defendants obtained “the whopping sum” N2.5 billion (N2,469,030,738.9) from the federal aviation ministry “through Broad Waters Resource Nigeria Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited by false pretence”.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants knew that representing the money as “cost of technical supervision and security integrated and logistics support services” was false.
The charge said the offence was contrary to sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The duo pleaded not guilty to all the charges after they were read to them.
Bail
Thereafter, Ms Oduah’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), applied for her bail conditions, contending that the defendant is a well-known figure.
Similarly, Ms Odita’s lawyer, Wale Balogun, also a SAN, urged the court to grant his client bail.
Mr Balogun informed the judge that the defendants had complied with the bail conditions in a sister case before the Federal High Court in Abuja where all travel documents were deposited.
The prosecution team, personally led by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, also a SAN, did not oppose the motion for their bail but asked the court to set a definite date.
He said he would rather request a date for trial to commence, while he called on the judge to compel the defendants to submit their travel documents.
The trial judge, Hamza Muazu, granted bail to the defendants on self-recognition and instructed that their travel documents be submitted to the court.
Ms Oduah’s counsel subsequently requested her travel documents.
The judge expressed readiness to grant the request if the defendant applied for permission to travel. But he also indicated that granting the request will be subject to presentation of her case to the satisfaction of the court.
He therefore adjourned the case to 12 and 13 February 2026 for the commencement of the trial.
Ex-minister faces another trial
Ms Oduah is facing separate N5 billion fraud charges alongside Ms Odita, Chinese construction giant CCECC, and others, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Others named in the case as defendants are Nwosu Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd and Sobora International Ltd.
Although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the case with 25 counts on 17 December 2020, the arraignment did not take place until 21 July 2023, due to dilatory tactics stalling proceedings.
The trial, which started before a judge, Inyang Ekwo, who is now serving a one-year suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC), has made little progress since the arraignment.
This newspaper reported that the 25 counts in the case centred on allegations that the defendants committed money laundering involving about N5 billion (N5,052,415,984) between February and June 2014.
The indictment also includes conspiracy to commit money laundering, transferring, taking control and taking possession of proceeds of fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering and opening anonymous bank accounts.
Specifically, the prosecution alleged in two of the 25 counts that Ms Oduah and Ms Odita opened anonymous “Private Banking Nominee” dollar and naira accounts with First Bank, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 11(4) (a) of the same Act.
READ ALSO: EFCC arraigns company official for failing to appoint anti-money laundering compliance desk officer
PREMIUM TIMES’ review of the charges showed that CCECC Nigeria Limited allegedly transferred over N2.5 billion into the naira account of a Private Banking Nominee between 31 March and 6 June 2014.
In seven of the counts where CCECC is indicted singly and along with Ms Oduah and Ms Oditah, the company was accused of “conspiring with the women to commit money laundering, and directly transferring to Private Banking Nominee account various sums of money totalling N2,583,385,246 which it reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: fraud…”
The defendants denied all the charges.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is closing in on a number of syndicates believed to be behind the blackmail of heads of key federal government departments and agencies, security sources have disclosed.
According to the sources, the secret police is being flooded with requests from the heads of those agencies to help unmask the blackmail syndicates.
One of the sources disclosed that, while some of the blackmailers are believed to be working alone, some, however, have turned blackmail into a sprawling business enterprise, sometimes working hand-in-glove with disgruntled staff members, contractors and suppliers.
The source disclosed that, even though several government agencies have been targeted by blackmail syndicates, special attention was been paid to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Universal Education Commission (UBEC), and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The source noted that some of the blackmailers begin with registering groups and associations and thereafter use the platforms to write the heads of the targeted government agencies.
“They often offer the CEOs concocted awards and recognitions for humongous fees. The moment these CEOs fail to pay up for such awards, the blackmailers move in, and use different platforms to write dubious petitions to anti-graft agencies
“The moment they pen their phantom petitions, they begin a smear campaign on social and conventional media all in the bid to get attention and be called to the negotiation table. All these are to frustrate and distract such CEOs to the point of capitulation,” disclosed the source.
“Worried by the antics of these criminal elements, some heads of agencies who are victims of these blackmailers, have officially reported the matter to the secret police,” he further noted, adding, “they are currently being investigated and would soon be invited for questioning.”
He disclosed that, aside immediate financial gains, the blackmailers sometimes work for bigger ones that feast on the greed of candidates who desperately want to succeed the current heads of those agencies.
“Recall the recent case of a former senator who collected N400 million to help a candidate secure a key federal government appointment. It was just weeks ago that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, discontinued the fraud case against the former senator. That was after he refunded the N400 million,” reminded the source.
Another source disclosed that the DSS is believed to be beaming its searchlight on those he described as “internal collaborators” who work with the concerned agencies yet maintain links with those who seek to undermine the agencies.
“The DSS is working on different leads, particularly on the realization that some staff if the agencies are stealing and selling official documents to these blackmailers, which is a serious crime and against the Official Secrets Act.
“They steal official documents, manipulates figures, dates and other relevant data therein. This is proving to be a huge challenge to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, as they now have to work more to sift out petitions with substance from the sham ones,” he added.
“Aside maintaining internal security, and providing VIP protection, the DSS is saddled with the responsibility of preventing subversion, sabotage, and economic crimes against national security, working behind the scenes to maintain stability,” he declared.
Sam Amadi, former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has cautioned political actors against underestimating President Bola Tinubu, saying he is prepared to engage opponents “dirty” if they come at him with “dirty dress”.
In a post shared on Wednesday via X, Amadi said those urging young politicians to confront the president should be mindful of the consequences.
He noted that while Tinubu “is not clean”, he is relentless and will “fight dirty once you are dirty and fighting him”.
Amadi added that Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, is the only one capable of surviving the “coming hurricane” because “his clothes are not dirty”.
His remarks come amid reports that former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has spent a second night in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, custody as he faces investigations into alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and abuse of office.
He wrote: “Those who are promising the youths that they can fight Tinubu with dirty dress should take note. Tinubu is not clean; but he will fight you dirty once you are dirty and fighting him.
“Only @PeterObi will survive the coming hurricane because his clothes are not dirty.”
A total of one hundred and fifty delegates is set to elect the Osun State governorship candidate of the Accord Party on Wednesday.
This comes barely 16 hours after Governor Ademola Adeleke officially joined the party at the Banquet Hall of the Osun State Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo.
The Nation observed heavy security presence at the venue, Oasis Event Centre, Agunbelewo, where the exercise will take place.
Operatives of the Department of State Services, the Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were stationed at the entrance, subjecting all entrants to thorough checks to maintain law and order.
Inside the hall, a section was designated for the 150 delegates who will vote in the primary, while other areas were reserved for observers and the media.
In the observers’ section, The Nation noted that many of those seated at a corner were members of the Peoples Democratic Party and aides of Governor Adeleke.
Confirming the process, the Osun State Chairman of the party, Pastor Victor Akande, told The Nation that 150 delegates would elect the governorship candidate of the party.
The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after failing to meet the bail terms earlier granted to him.
His detention has drawn fresh attention to long-standing concerns surrounding the handling of recovered funds linked to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
According to officials familiar with the development, Malami remained with EFCC operatives late into Tuesday night as he struggled to satisfy the conditions attached to his temporary release.
The commission has insisted he must first clear a series of allegations before he can be allowed to leave their facility.
Investigators are probing several issues, including the management of accounts suspected to be linked to money laundering and the movement of funds traced to international recovery operations.
One senior officer revealed that the commission is also looking into allegations connected to terrorism financing and the whereabouts of looted Nigerian funds returned from Switzerland and the Island of Jersey.
The source stated that the former minister would remain with them until he meets his bail obligations and addresses all queries arising from the probe.
According to the official, the EFCC has lined up numerous allegations for him to answer.
The officer noted that Malami is required to appear at the agency’s office every day throughout December as part of the ongoing investigation.
At the moment, investigators are examining what they described as 18 separate infractions. These include suspected money laundering, abuse of office, and transactions that the agency believes must be further clarified.
The official added that the full financial details remain uncertain, as more information continues to emerge during the review of documents and accounts.
Malami, however, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He described the allegations as “fabricated,” insisting that his record in public office does not align with the claims being circulated.
According to him, ”For the avoidance of doubt, my public record in office stands in direct contradiction to any insinuation of complicity in terrorism financing.”
He further maintained that during his time as Attorney-General, he worked with key institutions to strengthen the country’s fight against money laundering and terror-financing networks.
Weeks after the kidnapping of the schoolchildren and their teachers from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, one of the rescued girls has shared a chilling part of their experience in captivity.
The abduction, which took place on November 21, involved 303 students and 12 teachers.
The federal government secured the release of 100 students, while 203 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity.
The incident left many Nigerians shocked and worried about the safety of schoolchildren in the country.
Student Speaks About Ordeal
One of the rescued students, a girl, opened up in an interview shared by CNN.
She said the gunmen gave them tarpaulins to sleep on and ordered them to remain quiet.
“They gave us a tarpaulin, that we should put it down, we should lie down and sleep, that we should not make noise for them,” the student recounted.
Netizens React to the Release
The release of 100 students has sparked reactions online. Many expressed relief, while others raised concerns about those still being held in captivity.
See below;
@cnn
One hundred schoolchildren were rescued after being abducted last month from St. Mary’s Catholic School in central Nigeria. Many of them still remain hostage, according to a Reuters report. #CNN #news
♬ original sound – CNN – CNN
Chief executive officers of commercial banks have been directed to appear in person before an investigative panel of the House of Representatives over alleged illegal and unexplained deductions from customers’ bank accounts.
The summons was issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the deduction of taxes from civil and public servants’ earnings and bank charges on customers’ accounts.
Commercial banks deduct various charges from customers’ accounts, including SMS charges, Maintenance charges, and transfer charges, among others.
Banks accused of perpetrating illegality
Speaking during the panel session, Committee Chairman, Rep. Kelechi Nwogu, accused commercial banks of engaging in systematic and unlawful deductions, including charges that are neither transparent nor remitted to the appropriate authorities.
“Commercial banks are perpetrating illegality by deducting inexplicable charges from civil servants, public servants and other customers’ bank accounts without remittances,” Nwogu said.
- He noted that banks routinely deduct a range of charges such as SMS alerts, account maintenance fees, and transfer charges, raising concerns over the legality, transparency, and utilisation of such funds.
- Reiterating the committee’s mandate, Nwogu said the investigation would ensure that all deductions imposed by banks are properly authorised, correctly computed, and appropriately utilised.
“Our mandate is clear. All deductions or charges must be deducted rightly, fined rightly, and used rightly,” he said.
He also disclosed that the committee had extended invitations to the Ministry of Finance and would work closely with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and commercial banks operating in Nigeria to ensure a thorough probe.
CEOs must appear; no proxies allowed
The committee chairman firmly rejected any attempt by banks to send representatives instead of their chief executives, stressing that the CEOs themselves must appear unfailingly before the panel.
“You cannot appear here without an identity. We are not here on our own. We are here on the mandate of the people that elected us into parliament,” Nwogu said.
He added: “We have resolved to meet next week Wednesday. You must submit all requested documents on or before Monday. We will go through all the documents and we will put you on oath.”
Four-day ultimatum to submit documents
The committee issued a four-day ultimatum to all banks involved to submit the relevant documents required for the investigation.
According to Nwogu, any bank that fails to comply with the directive by Monday will face sanctions.
The House panel, he said, is determined to leave no stone unturned in uncovering the reasons behind what it described as spurious and unjustified deductions from customers’ accounts.
What you should know
According to a recent Business Expectations Survey Report released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), excessive bank charges, multiple taxes, and inadequate infrastructure ranked as the top constraints in September 2025.
- The survey revealed that respondents identified High Bank Charges (70.8), High/Multiple Taxes (70.8), and Poor Infrastructure (70.7) as the three most pressing challenges hindering business operations across the country.
- Despite these challenges, the report showed a modest level of optimism among businesses.
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Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC), a non-political organisation, has stated that the crisis arising from the withheld local government funds in Osun State is a threat to the political, socio-economic development, and well-being of the Osun people.
Speaking at a press conference, the coalition spokesperson, Raufu Sodiq, stressed that the continued withholding of Osun State local government funds has affected all sectors of the state, calling for the issue to be addressed without delay.
The coalition, which remarked that with the current situation, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain calls on the federal government to release the withheld funds, noted that funds are used for the betterment of the Osun people.
The spokesperson equally demanded full support for the affected sectors, including education, health, and security, to help them recover from the damage the withheld funds have caused.
Others, he pointed out, were to protect the rights of the masses to basic amenities and services, address the rising unemployment caused by the withheld funds, guarantee the security of lives and property in Osun State, as well as ensure the continuity of essential services, and other social services done in other states but deliberately not implemented in Osun State.
The demands also included holding accountable those responsible for the withholding of funds, adding that the state government should explore alternative funding sources, such as grants and loans, to support agricultural, sports development, and other critical sectors in the state.
The coalition further gave the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) a three-day ultimatum to ensure the release of the funds.
The CCNC, however, warned that if the federal government fails to act and get this issue completely resolved within three days, the coalition will be forced to adopt more drastic measures, including confrontation, to seek justice, which will be done nationwide.
The group, therefore, urged the federal government to prioritise the welfare of the masses, release the withheld funds to prevent further suffering, and not politicise the issue further.
According to the coalition, “CCNC will always stand for justice and protect the rights of our people without hesitation. We want to restate that we will never be allowed to be tools in the hands of any government. All we want is good governance, effective security, and employment that will aid good living conditions.
“We want to say that with all sense of responsibility that if the federal government administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not do the needful, we will have no other choice than to use the last resort of activism, which is confrontation, to seek justice.
“We don’t want the Osun State local government fund to be politicised any further. And we want to remind the federal government that Osun is not the only state that has not fully implemented local government autonomy, and the people should not be made to suffer unnecessarily.”
Rwanda accused the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi Wednesday of deliberately violating a ceasefire in eastern DRC, days after the signing of a peace agreement in Washington.
Rwandan-backed M23 fighters entered the strategic city of Uvira, near the Burundian border late Tuesday, as it became the latest major settlement to fall in the mineral-rich region that has been plagued by decades of conflict.
Thousands of civilians and scores of Congolese soldiers have fled across the border into Burundi, which has sent troops to help the DRC fight the Kigali-backed M23 and its Rwandan allies, according to military sources.
In a statement on X, the Rwandan foreign ministry said recent violations “cannot be placed on Rwanda” and said “the Congolese Army (FARDC) and the Burundian Army (FDNB)… had been systematically bombing civilian villages close to the Rwandan border, using fighter jets and attack drones, and which the AFC/M23 has said it has been forced to counter”.
“These deliberate violations of recently negotiated agreements constitute serious obstacles to peace,” the statement said.
The renewed violence undermines an agreement aimed at ending the conflict brokered by US President Donald Trump and which Kinshasa and Kigali signed less than a week ago, on December 4.
The United States and several European countries urged the M23 and Kigali in a joint statement on Tuesday to immediately cease their ongoing offensive.
AFP
The post Rwanda accuses DR Congo, Burundi of ‘violations’ days after peace deal appeared first on Vanguard News.
The Federal High Court of Nigeria (FHC) has condemned the use of the photograph of one of its judges, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in media reports about the gruesome murder of retired Delta State High Court judge, Justice Ifeoma Okogwu.
The Court affirmed that, contrary to the wrong impression created by the misused image, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is alive and currently discharging her judicial duties in her division.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the Federal High Court described the continued use of Justice Ojukwu’s photo in place of the murdered Justice Okogwu as reckless, misleading, malicious, and unprofessional, noting that it has caused Justice Ojukwu emotional distress.
The statement, signed by the Court’s Director of Information, Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, demanded the immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the wrongful use of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph.
The statement read: “The Federal High Court of Nigeria hereby issues this formal refutal and strongly condemns the recent dissemination of false, misleading, and malicious media publications that wrongfully used the photograph of Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in connection with reports on the tragic murder of Honourable Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, a retired Judge of the Delta State High Court.
“For absolute clarity, the Federal High Court affirms that Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is alive, healthy, and currently serving with distinction as a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
“His Lordship has no direct, indirect, or remote connection whatsoever to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the death of Justice Okogwu.
“The publication and circulation of Justice Ojukwu’s image in this context are not only factually inaccurate but also defamatory, professionally reckless, and legally actionable.
“This misrepresentation has caused significant emotional distress to His Lordship, her family, colleagues, and the broader judicial community. It also constitutes a breach of fundamental journalistic and ethical standards.
“Pursuant to applicable laws, including the laws of defamation under Nigerian jurisprudence, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, and relevant regulatory standards governing media practice, the Federal High Court demands the following with immediate effect:
‘Immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the wrongful use of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph.
‘A clear, unambiguous public retraction, expressly acknowledging the misidentification and correcting the misinformation.
‘A written and publicly published apology directed to Honourable Justice Ojukwu, disseminated across all platforms on which the erroneous information was originally shared.’”
The Federal High Court advised all media organisations, journalists, bloggers, and online publishers to exercise strict due diligence in verifying facts and images before publication, particularly when reporting on judicial officers whose reputational integrity is essential to the administration of justice.
It warned that failure to comply with the notice, or any continued publication, sharing, or circulation of the false image after the formal refutal, would be construed as deliberate malice and bad faith.
“The Federal High Court will not hesitate to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against any individual, organisation, or platform found culpable.
“The Court remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety, and integrity of all judicial officers serving the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it said.