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Tag: Diezani

  • Ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani’s suit against EFCC suffers setback

    Ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani’s suit against EFCC suffers setback

    A suit filed by the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to challenge the order obtained by the EFCC for final forfeiture of her seized assets, was on Monday stalled at a Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The matter, which was before Justice Inyang Ekwo, was fixed for further mention in the day’s cause list.

    However, the case could not proceed because the court did not sit.

    Justuce Ekwo was said to be attending a seminar at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

    The matter was subsequently fixed for Nov. 21.

    NAN reports that the ex-minister had, through her counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, sued the anti-graft agency as sole respondent.

    Alison-Madueke, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, sought an order extending the time to seek leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued to conduct a public sale on her property.

    In the motion dated and filed on Jan. 6, 2023, by her lawyer, the former minister sought five orders from the court.

    The former minister, who argued that the various orders were made without jurisdiction, said these “ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae.”

    Alison-Madueke alleged that she was not given a fair hearing in the proceedings leading to the orders.

    “The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she said.

    The former minister argued that she was neither served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence in any of the charges nor any other summons regarding the criminal charges pending against her before the court.

    She further argued that the courts were misled into making several final forfeiture orders against her assets through suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

    “The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts, and this honourable court has the power to set aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.

    “The orders were made without recourse to the constitutional right to fair hearing and right to property accorded the applicant by the constitution.

    “The applicant was never served with the processes of court in all the proceedings that led to the order of final forfeiture,” she said, among other grounds given.

    But the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by Mr Rufai Zaki, a detective with the commission, urged the court to dismiss her application.

    Zaki, a member of the team that investigated a case of criminal conspiracy, official corruption and money laundering against the ex-minister and some other persons involved in the case, said the investigation had clearly shown that she was involved in some acts of criminality.

    He said that Alison-Madueke was therefore charged before the court in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.

    “We hereby rely on the charge FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 dated 14 November, 2018, filed before this honourable court and also attached as Exhibit C in the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

    The EFCC operative said most of the depositions in Mrs Alison-Madueke’s suit were untrue.

    He said that contrary to her deposition in the affidavit filed in support of the suit, most of the cases, which led to the final forfeiture of the contested property, “were action in rem, same was heard at various times and determined by this honourable court.”

    He said that the courts ordered the commission to do a newspaper publication inviting parties to show cause why the said property should not be forfeited to the federal government before final orders were made.

    Zaki argued that one Nnamdi Awa Kalu, represented the ex-minister in reaction to one of the forfeiture applications.

    “We humbly rely on the judgment of Hon. Justice I.LN. Oweibo dated 10th September, 2019, shown in Exhibit C of the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

    The officer said that contrary to her, the final forfeiture of the assets, which were subject of the present application, was ordered by the court in 2017 and that this was not set aside or upturned on appeal.

    According to him, the properties have been disposed of through due process of law.

    NAN recalls that Justice Ekwo had, on June 21, 2023, fixed Oct. 23, 2023 for hearing of the suit

    The judge had fixed the date after a lawyer who appeared for Alison-Madueke, Benson Igbanoi, and EFCC’s counsel, M.D. Baraya, regularised their processes in the suit.

    The anti-corruption agency had planned to conduct a public sale of all the assets seized for being proceeds of crime as ordered by courts to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The auctioning exercise, conducted on the seized assets believed to include Alison-Madueke’s property, started on Jan. 9, 2023.

    The suspended chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had revealed that $153 million and over 80 property had been recovered from the ex-minister.

    She was alleged to have escaped to the United Kingdom and remained there after her exit from public office as the petroleum minister, an office she held between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The asset-related suit is different from the one she also filed to seek N100 billion as compensation for a series of EFCC’s alleged libellous publications against her.

  • Ex-petroleum minister, Diezani moves to recover seized assets

    Ex-petroleum minister, Diezani moves to recover seized assets

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja to vacate an order granted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for final forfeiture of her seized assets.

    Alison-Madueke, in an originating motion, sought an order extending the time within which to seek leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued to conduct public sale on her property.

    The anti-corruption agency had planned to conduct a public sale of all assets seized from Alison-Madueke beginning from Jan. 9 as contained in its public notice following various court judgments/orders issued in favour of the commission as final forfeiture orders against property and personal effects of the former minister.

    But in the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023 dated and filed Jan. 6 by her lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, before Justice Inyang Ekwo, the ex-minister sought five orders from the court.

    While Alison-Madueke is the applicant, the EFCC is the sole respondent in the suit.

    The former minister, who argued that the various orders were made without jurisdiction, said these “ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae.”

    She said she was not given fair hearing in all the proceedings leading to the orders.

    “The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice to conduct public sale of items contained in the public notice most of which court the interest of the applicant were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she said.

    She argued that she was neither served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence in any of the charge nor any other summons howsoever and whatsoever in respect of the criminal charges pending against her before the court.

    She further argued that the courts were misled into making several of the final forfeiture orders against her assets through suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

    “The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts and this honourable court has the power to set-aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.

    “The orders were made without recourse to the constitutional right to fair hearing and right to property accorded the applicant by the constitution.

    “The applicant was never served with the processes of court in all the proceedings that led to the order of final forfeiture,” she said, among other grounds given.

    But the EFCC, in a counter affidavit deposed to by Rufai Zaki, a detective with the commission, urged the court to dismiss Alison-Madueke’s application.

    Zaki, who was a member of the team that investigated a case of criminal conspiracy, official corruption and money laundering against the ex-minister and some other persons involved in the case, said investigation had clearly shown that she was involved in some acts of criminality.

    He said Alison-Madueke was therefore charged before the court in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.

    “We hereby rely on the charge FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 dated 14th November, 2018 filed before this honourable court and also attached as Exhibit C in the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

    The EFCC operative, who said he had seen the ex-minister’s motion, said most of the depositions were untrue.

    He said contrary to her deposition in the affidavit in support, most of the cases which led to the final forfeiture of the contested property “were action in rem, same were heard at various times and determined by this honourable court.”

    He said the courts differently ordered the commission to do a newspaper publication inviting parties to show cause why the said property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government, before final orders were made.

    Zaki argued that one Nnamdi Awa Kalu represented the ex-minister in reaction to one of the forfeiture applications.

    “We humbly rely on the judgment of Hon. Justice I.LN. Oweibo dated 10th September, 2019 shown in Exhibit C of the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

    The officer said that the contrary to her, the final forfeiture of the assets which were subject of the present application was ordered by the court since 2017 and that this was not set aside or upturned on appeal.

    According to him, the properties have been disposed off through due process of law.

    Upon mentioning the matter on Monday, Alison-Madueke’s counsel, Oluchi Uche, told Justice Ekwo that they were just been served by the EFFC on Friday and they would need time to respond to the counter affidavit.

    Farouk Abdullah, who appeared by the anti-graft agency, did not oppose and the judge adjourned the matter until May 8 for hearing.

    Alison-Madueke was Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

  • BREAKING: Court orders final forfeiture of Diezani’s Abuja homes, cars [See value]

    BREAKING: Court orders final forfeiture of Diezani’s Abuja homes, cars [See value]

    The Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties and two luxury cars belonging to a former minister of petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.

    The two properties are located at Plot 1854 Mohammed Mahashir Street, and No. 6, Aso Drive, in the highbrow Asokoro and Maitama Districts of Abuja are valued at $2,674,418USD and N380, 000,000 respectively.

    The luxury cars are a black BMW saloon with Chassis No B8CV54V66629 and registered number, RBC155 DH and a black Jaguar saloon car with Chassis No SAJAA.20 GRDMv43376, valued at N36,000,000.

    Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon gave the order forfeiting the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria while ruling on the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Suit No. 1122/2021 and Suit No 1123/2021, asking for the final forfeiture of the assets.

    The Commission had on November 29, 2021 secured the interim forfeiture on the assets in a ruling on separate motion ex-parte filed on September 27, 2021 which prayed the court to order the interim forfeiture of the assets on the grounds of reasonable suspicion that they were proceeds of unlawful activities.

    In granting the interim forfeiture Order, Justice Olajuwon had ordered the EFCC to publish a notice in a national newspaper, inviting anyone with interest in the assets to show cause why they should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The court consequently adjourned till January 22, 2022, for report.

    In compliance with the Order of Court, the Forfeiture Order was published in Thisday Newspaper of Wednesday April 6, 2022.

    In the absence of any contestation of the Interim Order, the Court, today, forfeited the properties to the Federal Government.

     

  • FG lists Diezani’s buildings, jewellery, bras for sale

    FG lists Diezani’s buildings, jewellery, bras for sale

    The Federal Government has started the process for the assessment of property belonging to the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The Diezani property located in highbrow Banana Island Foreshore Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, include 18 flats and six penthouses located at Building 3, Block B, Bella Vista, Plot 1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout.

    Other notable property listed include those belonging to the late Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, whose houses in the Wuse 2 and Maitama high-end neighbourhoods of Abuja were seized.

    They include No. 14 Adzope Crescent, off Kumasi Crescent; 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse 2; and 6 Umme Street, Wuse 2.

    Other recovered items listed are 125 pieces of wedding gowns, 13 pieces of small gowns, 41 pieces of waist trainers, 73 pieces of hard flower, 11 pieces of suit, 11 pieces of invisible bra, 73 pieces of veils, 30 pieces of braziers, two pieces of standing fan, 17 pieces of magic skits, six packets of blankets, one table blanket and 64 pairs of shoes.

    The Federal Government had last week initiated the process of screening 613 independent valuers expected to manage the sale of the assets alleged to have been illegally acquired, which have now been permanently forfeited to it in about 25 locations throughout the country.

    The total number of property marked for auction across the country is 1,620, including cars, houses, phones, laptops, vessels and other valuables.

    Lagos has the highest number of property that will be auctioned, including 31 houses and 589 vehicles.

    At the expiration of the deadline, 284 firms submitted bids for the valuation of landed property, including residential, commercial, institutional and underdeveloped plots of land slated for disposal.

    The Chairman, Inter-ministerial Committee on the Disposal of Forfeited Assets, Mohammed Etsu, told reporters lasts week that 229 proposals were received for the valuation of plants, machinery, motor vehicles, furniture and equipment, while 75 companies submitted bids for the valuation of water vessels for disposal, and 25 companies presented bids for the valuation of jewellery, ornaments and clothing materials for disposal.

    Etsu, who is also the Solicitor-General of the Federation, stated that the committee would ensure a harmonised and transparent process to safeguard the recovered assets by the relevant agencies.

    The solicitor-general said the sub-committee on valuation and due process had earlier conducted the technical evaluation of the bids received from interested valuers, adding that only clothing materials were available for valuation at the moment.

    Etsu noted that pieces of jewellery were still subjects of litigation and therefore were not part of the process for now, reminding the successful valuers of the need to be thorough.

  • N362m Diezani bribe: Appeal Court upholds conviction of ex-INEC staff

    N362m Diezani bribe: Appeal Court upholds conviction of ex-INEC staff

    The Court of Appeal, Yola Division, Adamawa State has affirmed the conviction of Ibrahim Mohammed Umar, a former electoral officer with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Yola South Local Government Area.

    Umar and his accomplice had earlier been convicted of a three-count charge by an Adamawa State High Court and sentenced to seven (7) years imprisonment for receiving a monetary benefit (bribery) to the tune of N362 million, being part of the bribe allegedly distributed by a former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 elections.

    Umar was arraigned alongside a former staff of a new generation bank by the EFCC on September 28, 2018. During the trial, EFCC called 14 witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted in evidence.

    Justice Nathan Musa, in his judgment, held that EFCC proved its case beyond reasonable doubt as investigation proved that the convict was identified as the person who signed and collected the said sum and was unable to account for its whereabouts.

    He was therefore convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of a fine on all the counts.

    Dissatisfied with the judgment, the convict approached the Court of Appeal, Yola Division on March 4, 2020, asking that the judgment of the lower court be set aside.

    The appellate court on April 14, 2021, delivered its judgment, wherein it unanimously affirmed the judgment of the lower court.

  • EFCC recovers $153m, 80 buildings from Diezani — EFCC Chairman

    EFCC recovers $153m, 80 buildings from Diezani — EFCC Chairman

    New chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said yesterday that the commission has recovered a whopping $153 million from former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, who has been staying in Britain since leaving office in 2015.

    Beyond the amount recovered from the former oil minister, no fewer than 80 choice property valued at $80 million have also been seized from her and handed over to the federal government.

    Bawa, who who disclosed this, also served a notice that he was ready to relinquish his position if anyone brought pressure on him to do what was not legal in the discharge of his duties.

    But he was quick to add that bringing the former minister to justice was still far from reality, given the fact that she was out of Nigeria’s jurisdiction and the challenges associated with bringing her home to face justice.

    The chairman said: “There are several cases surrounding Diezani’s case. I was part of that investigation, and we have done quite a lot. In one of the cases, we recovered $153 million; we have secured the final forfeiture of over 80 property in Nigeria valued at about $80 million. We have done quite a bit on that.

    “The other cases as it relates to the $115 million INEC bribery, is also ongoing across the federation. We are looking forward to the time we will, maybe, have her in the country, and, of course, review things and see what will happen going forward.
    The case has certainly not been abandoned.’’

    But responding to a question as to how he would be dealing with powerful government officials in the discharge of his assignment as EFCC chair, Bawa said he would be ready to leave the job if anyone tried to make him to do what was illegal.

    “I am not going to pay allegiance to individuals in the government,” he said. Bawa pointed out that though he was young in age; he had paid the price on the job, having been among the pioneer staff of EFCC and passed through the crucible to reach the top.

    “I rose through the ranks. The only job I know after graduation is the EFCC, which I joined in 2004. I rose through the ranks from an ordinary team member, to the first EFCC team leader from the regular staff of the EFCC.

    “ I became a sectional head, became the zonal head in Ibadan, zonal head in Port Harcourt, and zonal head in Lagos. Lagos is the biggest operational hub of the EFCC with over 600 personnel. Port Harcourt is next to it in terms of complexity and staff strength. I happen to be the first EFCC regular staff to head three different zones before my appointment as the chairman.

    “The records are there. And it is a challenge I have taken upon myself to do without fear or favour. That is the truth. If anybody is coming to ask me to do something that is contrary to my conscience or what the EFCC is set out to achieve, I’m going to resign,” Bawa vowed.

  • Relief for Diezani as court turns down arrest warrant

    Relief for Diezani as court turns down arrest warrant

    Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who has been named in several corruption scandals, got a temporary relief on Wednesday as a court declined to order her arrest.

    Mrs Alison-Madueke, who flew to the UK after her party, PDP, lost the 2015 presidential election, is believed to still be in the UK where she is also being investigated for money laundering.

    She has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

    The former acting chairman of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, had said the commission was determined to extradite her to Nigeria to face corruption charges. Mr Magu even accused the UK government of shielding the former powerful minister from prosecution.

    On Wednesday, however, the EFCC told a federal court in Abuja that it needed an official arrest warrant to secure her extradition.

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, however, turned down the EFCC’s request

    The judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, said that the commission must provide evidence that an order of summon earlier issued by the court was not sufficient to extradite the former minister.

    “I have carefully pursued the application of the prosecution. The earlier order of the court was made pursuant to Section 831 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). Court orders are not made in vain,” the judge said.

    “It is my view that the summons should have assisted in the extradition of the defendant by the Office of the AGF. Today, the defendant is not in court and no reason was given. I am being informed that the defendant is believed to be in the United Kingdom.”

     

    Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who has been named in several corruption scandals, got a temporary relief on Wednesday as a court declined to order her arrest.

    Mrs Alison-Madueke, who flew to the UK after her party, PDP, lost the 2015 presidential election, is believed to still be in the UK where she is also being investigated for money laundering.

    She has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

    The former acting chairman of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, had said the commission was determined to extradite her to Nigeria to face corruption charges. Mr Magu even accused the UK government of shielding the former powerful minister from prosecution.

    On Wednesday, however, the EFCC told a federal court in Abuja that it needed an official arrest warrant to secure her extradition.

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, however, turned down the EFCC’s request

    The judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, said that the commission must provide evidence that an order of summon earlier issued by the court was not sufficient to extradite the former minister.

    “I have carefully pursued the application of the prosecution. The earlier order of the court was made pursuant to Section 831 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). Court orders are not made in vain,” the judge said.

    “It is my view that the summons should have assisted in the extradition of the defendant by the Office of the AGF. Today, the defendant is not in court and no reason was given. I am being informed that the defendant is believed to be in the United Kingdom.”

    “This is evident by an affidavit of compliance filed in this case and before your lordship. It was filed on October 8, 2020,” he said.

    “My lord, this honourable court issued a summon for the defendant to appear today but the defendant has failed to appear. Giving the aforesaid fact, I apply that a warrant of arrest be issued against the defendant pursuant to Section 83(1b) of the ACJA 2015.”

    “We urge the court, in making the order, to direct all law enforcement agencies and the INTERPOL to arrest the defendant anywhere she is sighted and be brought before the court to answer to the allegation made against her before this honorable court,” he said.

    The lawyer said that the agency is working with the attorney-general to contact any country the defendant may be residing with the sole purpose of extraditing her in line with the Extradition Act and General Convention of Nations.

    He also said the initial summon had not materialised, so the need for an arrest warrant is urgent.

    The trial judge adjourned the matter to December 3, for report and arraignment of the defendant.

    The former minister is facing various corruption allegations for her role in a number of cases while serving as petroleum minister including her role in the Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) with Septa Energy Limited, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited by NNPC; the chartering of private jets by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Ministry of Petroleum Resources; and her role in the award of contracts by NNPC to Marine and Logistics Services Limited.

  • ‘ Yahoo boys’ have become role models – Diezani laments[VIDEO]

    ‘ Yahoo boys’ have become role models – Diezani laments[VIDEO]

    Former minister of petroleum resources Diezani Alison-Madueke has said the lack of societal values has made internet fraudsters locally known as ‘ Yahoo boys’ role models in Nigeria.

    Diezani stated this during a virtual lecture organized by the Ijaw National Development Group on Friday. Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Diezani’s former boss, was part of the event.

    Diezani said, “The ones that have swag, the Yahoo Yahoo boys as my son would say; these in short, are the role models they are looking at. These are the ones that reinforce negative societal norms and values.

     

    “This is a travesty of an unfolding tragedy for us. Why have I spent time talking about fatherless homes and the impact it has on our children? The truth of the matter is that an irresponsible boy tends to become an irresponsible man and it is therefore a vicious cycle. If you plant yam, you cannot harvest plantain.”

     

    Speaking further, she said there are no shortcuts to succeeding in life, stating that only diligence guarantee success.

    The former minister said societal values had collapsed mainly because of weak family bonds caused by broken homes.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDs6uU6D4px/

     

    TheNewsGuru reports that Diezani is wanted in Nigeria for alleged fraud. She has been in the United Kingdom since 2015.

     

    She was purportedly appointed as a Commissioner for Trade and Investment by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Commonwealth of Dominica and handed a diplomatic passport which has helped her to avoid prosecution.

     

     

  • N17.6bn money laundering: Court orders Diezani to appear for arraignment

    N17.6bn money laundering: Court orders Diezani to appear for arraignment

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, to appear for arraignment on money laundering charges preferred against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application shortly after it was moved by EFCC’s lawyer, Faruk Abdullah.

    The judge ordered the defendant who was alleged to have fled to the United Kingdom shortly after leaving office in 2015, to appear in court to answer to the 13 counts of money laundering involving $39.7m (N14.29bn at N360 to $1) and N3.32bn said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    Justice Ojukwu, in her ruling, ordered that the summons she issued on Friday should be published on the website of the EFCC and a national daily in a conspicuous manner.

    The judge adjourned the case till October 28 for the defendant’s arraignment.

    Due to Diezani’s absence, the judge had repeatedly adjourned the case, which was filed on November 11, 2018.

    On November 12, 2019, the judge gave EFCC till March 10, 2020 to have the ex-minister extradited from the United Kingdom to Nigeria to face trial or the charges against her would be struck out.

    The judge had said she would no longer allow the case to continue to clog her docket if no progress was being made.

    At the March 10, 2020 proceedings, the judge noted that from her records, EFCC had not taken any step in respect of the case to either serve the ex-minister or apply for the issuance of an arrest warrant against her since the case was filed in November 2018.

    She, however, backtracked on the threat to strike out the case after EFCC’s lawyer gave her an assurance that he would file an application for the court to issue criminal summons against the former minister.

    Abdullah said he did not find it necessary to apply for an arrest warrant against the former minister since a similar order of arrest had been issued against her by the late Justice Valentine Ashi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.

    He said the arrest warrant and the gratification charges filed before the late judge as well as the money laundering charges pending before Justice Ojukwu were filed as part of the extradition request sent to the UK authorities.

    Abdullah informed the judge that Diezani rebuffed attempts by Nigerian authorities to serve documents in connection with the case on her in the UK.

    He added, “We have submitted our extradition request to the UK authorities and we have done everything we needed to do.”

    He then informed the judge that he would file an application for criminal summons against Alison-Madueke as hinted by the judge.

  • Court orders ex-petroleum minister, Diezani to surrender for trial

    Court orders ex-petroleum minister, Diezani to surrender for trial

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Maudeke, to appear before it and answer to a money laundering charge filed against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In a ruling on Friday, on an ex-parte motion, Justice Ijeoma Ojkukwu ordered the issuance of summons on Diezani for her to attend court for the purpose of her arraignment on the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.

    To ensure that Diezani, said 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.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Faruk Abdallah had, while arguing the motion, noted that since Diezani allegedly fled the country, it was difficult to get her back to respond to the various criminal allegations against her.

    Abdallah said there was the need for a court’s summons or arrest warrant to compel her appearance in court.

    The EFCC, in a document filed along with the motion ex-parte, 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 NNPC.

    The commission said it also wants Diezani to respond to questions about “her role in the chartering of private jets by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (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 is investigating Diezani’s business relationships with Mr. Donald Amamgbo, Mr. lgho Sanomi, Mr. Afam Nwokedi, Chief lkpea Leemon, Miss Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde, Mr. Benedict Peters, Christopher Aire, Harcourt Adukeh, Julian Osula, Dauda Lawal, Mr. Leno Laithan, Sahara Energy Group and Midwestern Oil Limited.

    It added that Dezani was also required to clear air on “her role in financing the 2015 general elections, particularly the money that were warehoused at a Bank in 2015 prior to the elections.”

    The EFCC said it equally wanted the ex-minister to speak on several items, documents and jewelleries 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), United Arab Emirate (UAE) and South Africa.