A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) working on anti-corruption, transparency, and good governance in Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to ensure the full recovery of ₦4.9 billion allegedly misappropriated in the corruption case involving former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah.
The coalition raised the concern following reports from proceedings at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja indicating that the former minister may be exploring a refund arrangement as part of a possible plea bargain in the ongoing prosecution.
Reacting in a joint statement, the groups warned that any settlement that allows the refund of only a portion of the funds allegedly involved would undermine justice and weaken Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
According to the coalition, public records from investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) show that the original charges involve the alleged fraudulent diversion of approximately ₦4.9 billion in public funds during Oduah’s tenure as Aviation Minister.
The organisations acknowledged that plea bargaining is recognised under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 but stressed that such legal provisions must not become a mechanism for politically exposed persons to escape full accountability.
“Any settlement arising from this case must guarantee the complete recovery of the ₦4.9 billion allegedly misappropriated, not merely the ₦2.5 billion that has been referenced in some public reports,” the coalition stated.
The groups also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to ensure that any ongoing negotiations strictly comply with the principles of transparency, restitution, and justice.
“If a plea bargain is to be considered, it must undergo full judicial scrutiny and receive the approval of the court in accordance with the law. The process must remain transparent and accountable to the Nigerian public,” the statement added.
The coalition further emphasised that any plea bargain arrangement must include a clear admission of wrongdoing and appropriate legal consequences as provided by law, noting that silent settlements without sanctions would significantly undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework. According to the organisations, Nigeria’s justice system must demonstrate that politically exposed persons are not treated differently from ordinary citizens in the administration of justice.
“Allowing powerful individuals to refund only a fraction of allegedly stolen public funds without meaningful consequences will erode public confidence in the justice system and weaken the fight against corruption,” the groups warned.
They therefore urged the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the EFCC, and the judiciary to ensure that justice is not only done but is clearly seen to be done in the handling of the case. The coalition stressed that public office is a public trust and that individuals entrusted with managing national resources must be held fully accountable when that trust is allegedly violated.
The statement was jointly endorsed by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre); African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD); African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL); Amnesty International Nigeria; BudgIT Foundation; Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT); Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).
Others include Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) / Transparency International Nigeria; Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA); Global Rights; Media Rights Agenda; Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN); Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC); Say No Campaign; Social Action; Tax Justice and Governance Platform; Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity; Zero Corruption Coalition; and Alliance on Surviving COVID‑19 and Beyond (ASCAB).
The organisations reaffirmed their commitment to monitoring the case closely and ensuring that the Nigerian people receive full justice and accountability in matters involving the management of public resources.
