An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against former aviation minister Stella Oduah if she failed to appear in court again.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warning after EFCC counsel Hassan Liman in the alleged N5 billion trial against Ms Oduah, and eight others said the ex-minister and one other defendant were not in court to take their plea.
The court had earlier fixed February 9 for the arraignment of the former minister and eight others. But because Ms Oduah was not served with the court processes, the arraignment did not hold.
The court also fixed April 19 for the arraignment, but the matter could not hold due to the strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The lawmaker faces a fraud charge alongside others in a suit with the number FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20.
The anti-corruption agency is accusing Ms Oduah of misappropriating N5 billion of public funds while serving as aviation minister.
When the matter was called, Mr Liman, who informed that the case was scheduled for arraignment, said the EFCC had carried out the court order made on February 9.
“On Februrary 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,” he said.
Mr Ekwo said since the court did not sit on the last adjourned date, today’s proceeding should be for a report on the development, that the court would fix another date for arraignment.
The lawyer called the court’s attention to the fact that Ms Oduah, the first defendant and another defendant, were not in court.
“I will fix another date for arraignment, and if they like, let them not come,” Mr Ekwo said.
The judge, who told the prosecution lawyer to put his house in order, said, “Once the plea is taken, I am proceeding with (the) trial.”
Mr Ekwo, therefore, warned that any defendant not in court in the next adjourned date would be issued with an arrest warrant.
“Apart from the 2nd and 3rd defendants, the order defendants are absent today. This is a note of warning that anyone who is absent will be issued with a warrant of arrest,” he ruled.
He adjourned the matter until October 19 for arraignment and trial.
