Court Orders Diezani To Surrender For Trial
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to appear before it and answer to a money laundering charged filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a ruling on Friday, on an ex-parte motion, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered the issuance of summons on Diezani for her to attend court for the purpose of her arraignment on the charged marked FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.
Counsel to EFCC, Farouk Abdullah, had, while arguing the motion, noted that since Diezani allegedly fled the country, it was difficult to get her to respond to the various criminal allegations against her.
Abdallah said, there was the need for court’s summon or arrest warrant to compel her appearance in the court.
The EFCC in the document filed along with the ex-parte motion, said it sought to question Diezani, without success, in relation to many allegations against her, including her role as the Minister of Petroleum Resources and her role in the award of Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA), to Septa Energy Limited, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The commission said it also want Diezani to respond to question about her role in the chartering of private jets by the NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum Resources and her role in the award of contracts by NNPC to Marine and Logistics Services Limited.
The EFCC said it equally wanted the former minister to speak on several items, documents and jewelries recovered from her house at No. 10 Chiluba Close off Jose Marti Street, Asokoro, Abuja and some identified properties that are linked to her in Nigeria, UK, United States of America(USA), South Africa and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
To ensure that Diezani to have fled Nigeria for the United Kingdom (UK), was aware of the invitation, Justice Ojukwu ordered that the court’s summons should be published on the website of the EFCC and a national daily in a conspicuous manner.
Justice Ojukwu adjourned till October 28 this year for Diezani to attend court for the purpose of her arraignment on the pending money laundering charge.
The EFCC said it is investigating Diezani’s business relationships with Mr Donald Amamgbo, Mr Igbo Sanomi, Mr Afam Nwokedi, Chief Ikpea Leemon, Miss Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde, Mr Benedict Peter, Christopher Are, Harcourt Adukeh Julian Osula, Dauda Lawal, Nnamdi Okonkwo, Mr. Leno Laithan, Sahara Energy Group and Midwestern Oil Limited.
