An FCT High Court, Apo on Wednesday fixed Oct. 3, for the
arraignment of Deziani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum on five
counts bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving
gratifications.
The court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission leave to arraign Alison-Madueke, former Chairman of Atlantic Energy
Drilling Company, Olajide Omokore, on five counts on Feb. 25.
The date was fixed following the absence of Justice
Valentine Ashi, trial judge who was on another official engagement.
Mr Faruk Abdullahi, Counsel to the EFCC had told the court
on Feb. 25, that the arraignment would not hold as Alison-Madueke and her
co-accused were not in court.
Abdullahi explained that the EFCC had forwarded a request to
the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for onward commencement of
Alison-Madueke’s repatriation process from the United Kingdom.
He said the absence of the second defendant, (Omokore) was
linked to the commission’s inability to serve him with the court’s processes.
The prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court for further
adjournment to enable the team tidy up its house.
Mr Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, Counsel to Omokore said his
client was prepared to stand trial but that the right process to commence the trial
must be adhered to.
Alison-Madueke and Omokore, are billed to be arraigned on
five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal acts of accepting and
giving bribe.
EFCC averred that the accused persons had conspired at
different levels to commit the fraud.
The anti-graft body further alleged that the ex-minister
accepted 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 EFCC Act, 2000.
On Dec. 5, 2018, Justice Ashi ordered the police, EFCC,
Department of State Services (DSS), and others to produce Diezani in court
within 72 hours.
Ashi gave the order, following an ex parte motion made
before the court by the counsel to the anti-graft agency.
The suspects are also to be arraigned for allegedly
accepting and giving gifts of properties described as penthouse 22, Block B,
Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana Island,
Lagos.
The EFCC revealed that the alleged offence contravened the
provisions of sections 26(1) and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act, 2000.
On Nov. 11, 2018, the EFCC confirmed that the process to
repatriate the former Minister of Petroleum, Alison-Madueke, from the United
Kingdom has begun.
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