From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the United Kingdom.
Justice Olajuwon of the Abuja division of the court issued the order on Monday after listening to an oral application the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), made through its counsel, Farouk Abdullah.
The former minister is facing several money-laundering allegations charges filed by the anti-graft agency but has remained in the UK and refused to return to the country to face her trial.
The court had on July 24, 2020, ordered the former Minister to appear before it to answer to the money laundering charge pending against her.
The summon followed an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018, which was filed by the EFCC.
The EFCC told the court that due to Deizani’s refusal to make itself available, it published the summon on both its website and on a national daily.
Moving the oral application on Monday, Abdullah informed the judge that all efforts by the Commission to get the ex-Minister extradited back to the country proved abortive.
The prosecution counsel further stressed that the warrant was needed to enable the EFCC to persuade the International Police (INTERPOL) to arrest Diezani and also help the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to facilitate her extradition.
Placing reliance on the provisions of section 83(1b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, Abdullah, “urged my lord 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 this court to answer to the allegation made against her. ”
The Commission had before now told the court that investigations revealed that the former Petroleum Minister was not only deeply involved in money laundering, but equally played key roles in other financial crimes.
However, the prosecuting agency lamented that since Diezani fled the country shortly after she exited the office, it has been difficult to get her back to respond to different criminal allegations against her.
It said Diezani was among other things, wanted over the alleged role she played 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.
She is expected to answer questions on 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.
Besides, the agency said it is currently investigating the nature of business relationships the former Minister had with some persons.
It listed some of Diezani’s alleged allies under investigation as 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.
The EFCC said it wanted the ex-Minister to speak on several items, documents and jewellery that were 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.
More so, the Commission told the court that it would also require Diezani to explain her role in financing the 2015 general elections, particularly the money that were warehoused at a commercial Bank in 2015, prior to the elections.