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The scheduled arraignment of former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, and eight others, for alleged N10 billion fraud, was stalled on Monday.

The prosecution failed to effect service of court documents on some of the defendants.

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This is the second time the arraignment was being put off, following claim by lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Hassan Liman (SAN), that he had not served all the defendants.

The EFCC, in the 25-count charge, accused the nine defendants of engaging in conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.

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Named with Oduah as defendants are: Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Limited, Tip Top Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited.

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At the mention of the case on February 9, 2021, Liman told the court that the defendants were absent in court because they had not been served.

Though Oduah and some other defendants were in court yesterday, but Liman told the court that he had not served the fifth and sixth defendants – Global Offshore and Tip Top Global.

The lawyer sought the permission of the court to serve the defendants, which are corporate entities, at their addresses.

Without any objection from some defence lawyers in court, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the leave sought and directed that the defendants be served within 14 days.

He adjourned till Ap ril 19 for arraignment.

Source: www.thenationonlineng.net