Gbenro Adesina
Upon a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources in.
Bolaji, who gave the order on January 24, 2022, following an application by EFCC Counsel, Farouk Abdullah, agrees with EFCC that Diezani should be extradited to Nigeria to face series of economic sabotage charges levied against her.
Diezani is the subject of several corruption and money-laundering investigation by the EFCC and has featured in a couple of charges filed in court by the Commission, which had stalled owing to her absence.
Abdullah told the court that efforts by the EFCC to get the ex-Minister extradited have been futile.
“We urge my lord to issue an arrest warrant against Alison-Madueke, who is believed to be in the UK to enable all law enforcement agencies and the INTERPOL to arrest her anywhere she is sighted and be brought before this court to answer to the allegation made against her,” Abdullah told the court.
Justice Olajuwon granted the Order as prayed, and adjourned the case indefinitely, pending the arrest and extradition of the defendant.
Diezani is linked by the EFCC investigation to, among others, the alleged fraud 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, as well as the infamous $115bn bribe to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
