Nigeria court adjourns the trial of Stella Oduah, a former minister of aviation, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation over an alleged N7.9 billion fraud the Abuja-based Federal High Court will now commence trail November 14th.
Not enough time for trial
The case was scheduled for trial on October 17, 2023, but the court postponed it until November 14. The court claimed that there wasn’t enough time for the trial.
Oduah was not present in court and her absence was not explained; nevertheless, the FG’s and her attorney were present. Oduah and the massive Chinese construction company are being investigated for alleged fraud, money laundering, and bribery charges totaling N7.9 billion.
According to jerrymusa.com they were charged with conspiracy, money laundering, and keeping fictitious bank accounts with a commercial bank in the 25-count charge designated FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020.
Charges levelled as follow
The charges include the following in part: “That you, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC, between March 31 and April 1, 2014, at Abuja, directly deposited N500 million from your account No. 0023880295 with Guaranty Trust Bank to a private banking nominee account no.
2024414450 domicile with First Bank, money that you knew, with a reasonable amount of certainty, was part of the proceeds of fraud, and you did so in violation of Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 and subject to punishment under Section 15(4) of the same Act.
“That between March 5 and May 30, 2014, in Abuja, you, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), directly deposited N868.4 million from your account with Zenith Bank to a Private Banking nominee account no.
defendants were arraigned
2024414450 domicile with First Bank, which money you reasonably ought to have known is part of the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely fraud, and you so committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 and punishable under Section 15(4) of the same Act.
On July 21, 2023, Oduah and eight other defendants were arraigned and entered a not guilty plea to the allegations.