of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed March 3, 2021,
for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to fully
comply with its orders in the trial of a former Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu fixed the date on Thursday after counsel
to the EFCC, Farouk Abdullah, asked the court for more time to
enable the anti-graft agency to ensure full compliance with the
court orders.
This comes after the court refused to grant the EFCC’s
application seeking an order for the issuance of a warrant of
arrest against Mrs Alison-Madueke in its ruling on October 28,
2020.
Justice Ojukwu held that an affidavit with evidence in support
to prove that the earlier court summon granted the agency had
failed in the extradition of the former minister must be filed by
the commission before another request could be made.
She noted that the EFCC had informed the court that the Office
of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of
Justice hinted that the arrest warrant was needed to further give
the International Police (INTERPOL) the impetus to bring the
defendant to Nigeria to answer to charges against her.
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The judge, however, said it would give the anti-graft agency
room to put its house in order in the trial of the former minister
because court orders were not made in vain.
Abdullah had, in an application, urged the court to issue an
arrest warrant against Alison-Madueke, who is believed to be in the
United Kingdom.
He explained that the arrest warrant was needed to enable all
law enforcement agencies and the INTERPOL arrest her anywhere she
was sighted and be brought before the court to answer to the
allegation made against her.
The lawyer added that since the summon had not been able to
achieve the desired result, the need for a warrant of arrest cannot
be over-emphasised.
Ruling on an ex-parte motion brought by the EFCC on July 24, the
court had summoned the former minister to appear before it and
answer to the money laundering charges filed against her by the
anti-graft agency.
The commission had accused Alison-Madueke of fleeing the country
for the UK in order to escape justice.