Sen. Stella Oduah In Fresh N3.6b Aviation Theft Scandal

TodayNG - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced N3.6b in stolen funds to former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, according to EFCC sources.

As Minister of Aviation, Ms. Oduah secured several multi-billion naira contracts to upgrade Nigeria’s 22 airports.

It was later revealed that much of this money went into the minister’s pockets and that the program’s progress that she touted was grossly overstated.

Documents made available showed that of the 192 contracts awarded in the second phase of the program, only six were completed.

Ms. Oduah first came under scrutiny after compelling the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to buy her two bulletproof BMWs valued at N255m.

The minister was subsequently indicted by the House of Representatives and a presidential committee for violating the country’s procurement regulations.

Ms. Oduah recently obtained an interim injunction preventing the EFCC from investigating, arresting, questioning, or prosecuting her.

The injunction was granted by a controversial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

However, Justice Okon Abang dismissed her injunction in February at a Federal High Court in Lagos, allowing the EFCC to commence the investigations into the N255m scandal.

With permission to investigate the minister, the anti-graft agency revealed that Ms. Oduah not only misallocated N255m to purchase her vehicles but also stole N3.6b and funneled it into eight companies she created for the purpose of money laundering.

More Facts On Ex-Gov. With 29 Exotic $58m Mansions Exposed, EFCC Closes In

More facts have surfaced on an ex-Nigerian governor with 29 assets, worth almost $2 million each in the United Arab Emirate, Dubai.

According to New Telegraph, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is closing in on the Governor who was revealed to be from the southern party of Nigeria. 

News Punch had earlier reported that an Ex-Governor In Trouble As 29 Exotic $58m Mansions Exposed In Dubai

The former governor would soon be invited to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, to answer questions on the alleged ownership of the luxury houses, each of which is said to be valued at over $1 million. 

New Telegraph source said the commission was determined to deploy all that is legitimately required, to recover the controversial property, once it has incontrovertible evidence to link the ownership of the property to the erstwhile governor.

He insisted that the said luxury homes, were allegedly acquired through offshore companies, who are also responsible for their management. This is even as Saturday Telegraph further gathered, that the UAE government was mounting pressure on the offshore companies to come clean on the true ownership of the assets.

The decision by the Federal Government to seek the support of the government of UAE, and the latter’s cooperation, Saturday Telegraph learnt, comes on the heels of a subsisting Bilateral Agreement, which countries signed sometime in January.

The signing, which took place in Abu Dhabi, was witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Crown Prince of the UAE, Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “Further to the earlier tracing of the assets, the EFCC is working towards inviting the ex-governor to come and defend himself,” the source said.

Asked to be specific on the date, he declined, saying: “I can’t tell you that; you will know once that happens.” He added that: “The UAE government is mounting pressure on the offshore companies to make some disclosures to it, which will definitely help our investigation. Once all relevant procedures are concluded, and the commission feels strongly it has a prima facie case, it will charge him to court.”

Relate News: Ex-Governor In Trouble As 29 Exotic $58m Mansions Exposed In Dubai