The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, has issued a warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the United Kingdom.
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon issued the order after he heard an oral
application the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
made through its lawyer, Farouk Abdullah.
EFCC said its investigations revealed that the ex-Minister who is facing
several money-laundering allegations, has remained in her hideout in the
UK and refused to return to the country to enter her plea to charges
against her.
Abdullah told the court that all efforts by the agency to get the ex-
Minister extradited back to the country proved abortive.
He stressed that the warrant would 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.
EFCC anchored the application on section 83(1b) of the Administration
of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.
Meanwhile, after he had listened to the application, Justice Olajuwon
granted it as prayed, even as he adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely)
to await the arrest and extradition of the Defendant.
