A Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, issued an arrest warrant against the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, believed to be residing in the United Kingdom, (UK).
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon granted the request, after counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farouk Abdullah, made an oral application.
Recall that the court had fixed Nov. 3, 2021, for the EFCC to give a report on its effort at extraditing Alison-Madueke to the country to stand her trial, and for possible mention of the case.
But on the adjourned date, the case was stalled, as neither Abdullah nor Alison-Madueke was in sight. Justice Olajuwon then fixed yesterday, Jan. 24, for the matter and adjourned for the report, or for possible mention of the matter.
Recall that a judge had, on Oct. 28, 2020, rejected the EFCC’s prayer to issue a warrant of arrest against Alison-Madueke, citing the Commission’s failure to enforce the earlier criminal summons.
The Commission had, in requesting for the criminal summons in July 2020, claimed that it was required to facilitate the ex-minister’s extradition to Nigeria.
Faced with the failure of the ex-minister to honour the summons, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Abdullah, urged Justice Ojukwu to issue a warrant of arrest against her, saying that the extradition process failed as a result of the absence of the warrant of arrest. The Judge, however, turned down the request and adjourned for report and possible arraignment of the defendant (Alison-Madueke).
However, when the matter was called yesterday, Abdullah, who was in court told the court that all efforts by the agency to get the ex-minister extradited when the matter was before Ojukwu were unsuccessful.
Abdullah, who made an oral application for an arrest warrant, said the application was part of the requirements by the office of the AGF for the extradition. He said 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.
Justice Olajuwon thereafter granted the application and adjourned the matter sine die pending when the defendant (Alison-Madueke) is arrested and produced in court.
Abdullah had, in an application, urged the court “to issue an arrest warrant against Alison-Madueke, who is believed to be in the UK to enable all law enforcement agencies and the INTERPOL to arrest her anywhere she is sighted and be brought before the court to answer to the allegation made against her before the court”.
The court had, on July 24, 2020, ordered the former minister to appear before it and answer to the money laundering charge filed against her by the EFCC.
The EFCC had accused the former minister of fleeing the country for the UK in order to escape justice, among others.
