The Apo High Court Of The Federal Capital Territory, abuja, on Wednesday set Oct. 3, for the trial of former Minister of Petroleum, Deziani Alison-Madueke, on five counts bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 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 February 25.
Oct. 3 was fixed for their arraignment following the absence of Justice Valentine Ashi, trial judge who was absent from the court on another official assignment.
The Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Faruk Abdullahi, had told the court on Feb. 25, that the arraignment would not hold as the accused failed to appear in court.
The EFCC had written an official request to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for onward commencement of Alison-Madueke’s repatriation process from the UK.
Abdullahi, said the absence of the second defendant, (Omokore) was the result of EFCC’s inability to serve him with the court’s processes.
The counsel prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court for further adjournment to enable the commission serve the accused persons properly.
NAN reports that 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.
NAN reports that 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.
NAN reports that 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.
NAN reports that 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. (NAN)
