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Corruption: Arrest warrant issued against ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Ex-Minister for Petroleum Resources

*Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission declares arrest warrant is needed to further give the International Police (Interpol) the impetus to bring Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister for Petroleum Resources, to answer to corruption charges against her in the country

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to earlier unsuccessful efforts by the anti-graft agency to extradite the defendant  to Nigeria to face prosecution over alleged corruption, Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja, FCT, has issued a warrant of arrest against Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister for Petroleum Resources, said to be residing in the United Kingdom (UK).

Justice Olajuwon granted the request after Farouk Abdullah, Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made an oral application, report said.

The court had fixed November 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 the EFCC nor Alison-Madueke was in sight.

Accordingly, Justice Olajuwon had Monday, January 24, 2022, for the matter and adjourned for report or for possible mention of the matter.

Nevertheless, when the matter was called, Abdullah was in court.

The EFCC Counsel told the court that all efforts by the agency to get the ex-Minister for Petroleum extradited to the country when the matter was before the former judge, Justice Ojukwu, were unsuccessful.

The summons issued by Justice Ojukwu, he disclosed, had not been able to achieve its intended goal of extraditing the defendant.

Abdullah, who made an oral application for an arrest warrant, further said that the application was part of the requirements by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for the extradition.

Abdullah stated the arrest warrant was needed to further give the International Police (Interpol) the impetus to bring the defendant to Nigeria to answer to corruption charges against her.

Justice Olajuwon, subsequently, granted the application and adjourned the matter indefinitely, pending when the defendant (Alison-Madueke) is arrested and produced in court in Nigeria.

Earlier, Justice Ojukwu October 28, 2020, had rejected the EFCC’s prayer to issue a warrant of arrest against Alison-Madueke, citing the regulatory Commission’s failure to enforce the earlier criminal summons, which the court issued on the former Minister since July 24, 2020, saying court orders are not made in vain.

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