Absence: Court Threatens Issuance Of Warrant On Ex-Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah if she failed to appear in court at the next adjourned date.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who gave the warning after counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dr. Hassan Liman, told the court that the former minister and one other defendant were not in court to take their plea in the alleged N5 billion trial against Oduah and eight others.

The former minister is facing a fraud charge alongside others in a suit with the reference number: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20 in which the EFCC is alleging that Oduah misappropriated public funds to the tune of N5 billion while serving as Minister of Aviation.

When the matter was called, Liman, reminded the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment, adding that the anti-corruption agency had carried out the court order made on February 9, 2021.

According to Liman; “On February 22, 2020, my lord made an order of substituted service on the 5th and 6th defendants in the trial. We have carried out the order my lord”.

At that point, Justice Ekwo said that since the court did not sit on the last adjourned date, today (Monday’s) proceeding should be for a report on the development and another date would be fixed for arraignment.

The trial judge went ahead to ask how many witnesses the prosecution will be calling and Lima, the EFCC counsel said that he would be calling 32 witnesses during the trial, adding that some of the witnesses were within the jurisdiction of the Court while others are not.

Lima further said that the EFCC would produce two witnesses in the first day of trial and called the attention of the Court to the fact that Oduah, who is the 1st defendant, and another defendant listed as 4th in the trial were not in court.

Justice Ekwo then ruled that he would fix another date for arraignment, adding that “if they like, let them not come”.

The judge then told the EFCC lawyer to put his house in order, adding that once the plea is taken, the court would be proceeding with the trial.

Justice Ekwo therefore, warned that any defendant who failed to be in court at the next adjourned date would be issued with an arrest warrant.

The trial judge further ruled; “Apart from the 2nd and 3rd defendants, the other defendants are absent today. This is a note of warning that anyone who is absent will be issued with a warrant of arrest”.

The case was accordingly adjourned to October 19, 2021 for arraignment and trial.