A federal capital territory (FCT)
high court, Apo, has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) leave to arraign Diezani Alison-Madueke,
former petroleum minister, and Olajide Omokore, a former chairman of
Atlantic Energy Drilling company, on February 25.
Alison-Madueke and Omokore are to
be arraigned on five counts bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of
accepting and giving gratifications.
The trial judge, Valentine Ashi,
granted the EFCC leave, after the prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdullahi, told
the court that while investigations were ongoing, the former minister left the
country and is currently in the UK.
Ashi also ordered the EFCC to put
its house in order.
The suspects are to be arraigned
for allegedly accepting and giving a gift of properties described as penthouse
22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana
Island, Lagos.
The EFCC said the alleged offence
contravened the provisions of sections 26(1) and 17 of the Corrupt Practices
and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The prosecutor, Faruk Abdullahi,
told the court that while investigations were ongoing, the former minister left
the country and is currently in the United Kingdom.
He also said that upon invitation
by the EFCC, Alison-Madueke refused to honour the invitation. He said there is
a process in place to ensure she comes back to face trial.
The counsel to the second
defendant, Tayo Adeniyo, told the court that his client was not served with the
charges and his client was ready to clear his name.
On November 11, the EFCC
confirmed that the process to bring back Alison-Madueke from the United Kingdom
had begun.
Alison-Madueke, who is being
investigated in the UK, had urged the federal government to have her
repatriated to Nigeria to face corruption charges against her.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
All part of the campaign strategy for APC. Why did they not start this 2 years ago?
ReplyDelete