Court grants EFCC leave to arraign Alison-Madueke

An FCT High Court, Apo on Monday, granted the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leave to arraign former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and a former Chairman of
Atlantic Energy Drilling company, Olajide Omokore, on Feb. 25.

Diezani Alison-Madueke

Alison-Madueke and Omokore, are to be arraigned on five counts
bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving
gratifications.

Trial judge, Justice Valentine Ashi, granted the EFCC leave, after
the prosecution counsel, Mr Faruk Abdullahi told the court that while
investigations were on going, the former minister left the country and
is currently in the UK.

Justice Ashi, also ordered the EFCC to put its house in order.

He alleged that Alison–Madueke, refused to honour an invitation by the EFCC to appear at the commission.

The suspects, are to be arraigned for allegedly accepting and giving
gift of properties described as penthouse 22,Block B, Admiralty
Estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana Island,
Lagos.

The EFCC said the alleged offence, contravened the provisions of
Sections 26(1) and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act, 2000.

The prosecutor, Mr Faruk Abdullahi told the court that while
investigations were on going, the former minister left the country and
is currently in the United Kingdom.

He also said that on invitation by the EFCC Mrs Madueke refused to
honour the invitation but all process are set in place to ensure she
comes back to face trial.

The counsel for the second defendant, Tayo Adeniyo SAN, told the
court that his client was not served with the charges and his client was
read to clear his name.

NAN reports that on Nov. 11, the EFCC confirmed that the process to
bring back a former Minister of Petroleum, Alison-Madueke, from the
United Kingdom has begun.

Acting spokesman of the Commission, Mr Tony Orilade, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

According
to Orilade, EFCC’s Operations Department had made presentation to the
Legal Department to commence the process, noting that the process has
commenced.

He, however, said that the action had to be processed through the
office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, explaining that it was
not something the Commission could commence and conclude on its own.

“It is ongoing. Within the next few weeks, the extent to which we have gone will be made known to the public.

“It is not a fresh case; it is not a fresh petition that is just being looked into; the whole process is a total package.

“This request to have Mrs Alison-Madueke repatriated to Nigeria is
just an aspect of Diezani’s investigation and commencement of trial,” he
said.

In 2017, a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the final forfeiture
of N7.6bn alleged loot recovered from the former minister to the Federal
Government.

Justice Abdulazeez Anka granted an application by the EFCC seeking the final forfeiture of the money to the government.

Granting
the application, the judge had said: “I have read the motion on notice
seeking the final forfeiture of the sum of N7.6bn reasonably suspected
to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

“I have also gone through the affidavit in support of the application.

“In the circumstances, I am of the view that the application has
merit and is hereby granted as prayed. Parties have a right of appeal.”

In October, 2017, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami, had said that Nigeria had no immediate
plan to bring Alison-Madueke back home to face trial.

Alison-Madueke, who is being investigated in the UK, had urged the
Federal Government to have her repatriated to Nigeria to face corruption
charges against her.