A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to issue arrest warrants against former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah and eight others named in a charge pending should they fail to attend court on the next date.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warning on Monday when Oduah (now a serving Senator, representing Anambra North Senatorial District) and some other defendants were absent at the proceedings with no explanation from their lawyers

Named with Oduah, as defendants in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020 are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.

In the 25-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the nine defendants are accused, among others, of engaging in the laundering of about N10billion.

They are particularly charged with conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with an old generation bank.

At the mention of the case on Monday, the court noted only the second and third defendants (Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi) were present.

The development prompted the prosecuting lawyer, Hassan Liman (SAN) to complain about the absence of the other defendants without any explanation from their lawyers.

‎The court had earlier fixed Feb. 9 for the arraignment of the former minister and eight others. But due to the fact that Oduah, who currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was not served with the court processes then, the arraignment could not go on.

The court also fixed April 19 for the arraignment but due to the strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), the matter could not hold.

The anti-corruption agency is alleging that Oduah misappropriated public funds to the tune of N5 billion while serving as Minister of Aviation.

When the matter was called, Liman, who informed that the case was scheduled for arraignment, said the anti-corruption agency had carried out the court order made on Feb. 9.“On Feb. 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. Justice Ekwo, however, said that since the court did not sit on the last adjourned date, today’s proceeding should be for a report on the development and another date would be fixed for arraignment.

“How many witnesses are you calling,” the judge asked. Liman, who said the EFCC would be calling at least 32 witnesses in the trial, said while some of the witnesses were within the court jurisdiction, others were not.

He added that the agency would produce two witnesses in the first day of trial commencement.

The lawyer called the court attention to the fact that Oduah, who is the 1st defendant, and another defendant listed as 4th in the trial were not in court.

“I will fix another date for arraignment and if they like, let them not come,” 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 trial.”

Ekwo, therefore, warned that any defendant who was 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 Oct. 19 for arraignment and trial.