A federal high court in Abuja has ordered Diezani
Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum, to appear before it to answer
money laundering charges preferred against her by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ijeoma Ojkukwu, the presiding judge, gave the order while
ruling on an ex parte application brought before her by Faruk Abdallah, counsel
to the EFCC, on Friday.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018, the EFCC filed 13
counts of money laundering involving $39.7m and N3.32bn said to be proceeds of
unlawful activities against the former petroleum minister.
While urging the court to grant the order, Abdallah said Diezani
fled the country shortly after leaving office in 2015, and efforts to get her
back to respond to the various criminal allegations against her has proved
abortive.
A document showing many allegations against Diezani,
including “her role as the minister of petroleum resources and her role 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, were attached to the motion.
Abdallah added that Diezani ought to respond to question
about “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.”
The former minister is also wanted to give account of
several items including documents and pieces of jewellery recovered from her
house at No: 10, Chiluba Close, off Jose Marti Street, Asokoro, Abuja, and some
identified properties that were linked to her in Nigeria, UK, United States of
America (USA), United Arab Emirate (UAE) and South Africa.
The commission also wants Diezani to resolve issues
concerning “her role in financing the 2015 general election, particularly the
money that were warehoused at Fidelity Bank Plc in 2015 before the elections.”
According to Abdallah, the agency is investigating Diezani’s
business relationships with many persons and companies such as Donald Amamgbo,
lgho Sanomi, Afam Nwokedi, lkpea Leemon, Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde, Benedict
Peters, Christopher Aire and Harcourt Adukeh.
Others are Julian Osula, Dauda Lawal, Nnamdi Okonkwo, Leno
Laithan, Sahara Energy Group and Midwestern Oil Limited.
He prayed the court to compel the accused to appear in
court.
Delivering the ruling, Ojukwu ordered the issuance of
summons on Diezani for her to be arraigned on the charge.
She added that the court’s summons be published on the
website of the EFCC and a national newspaper in a conspicuous manner, for
Diezani to be aware of the invitation.
The matter has been adjourned till October 28, 2020.
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