A Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court sitting in Apo area of Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leave to arraign former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and a former Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling company, Olajide Omokore, on Feb. 25.
Alison-Madueke and Omokore are to be arraigned on five counts bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications. NAN reports.
The prosecutor, Faruk Abdullahi told the court that the former minister left the country and was currently in the UK while investigations were ongoing.
Abdullahi said that on invitation by the EFCC, Mrs Madueke refused to honour the invitation but all process are set in place to ensure she comes back to face trial.
The counsel to the second defendant, Tayo Adeniyo SAN, told the court that his client was not served with the charges and that his client was ready to clear his name.
The trial judge, Justice Valentine Ashi, granted the EFCC leave on Monday after the prosecution counsel, Mr Faruk Abdullahi, told the court that while investigations were ongoing, the former minister left the country and was currently in the UK.
Ashi alleged that Alison-Madueke refused to honour an invitation by the EFCC to appear at the commission.
The suspects are 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 said the alleged offence contravened the provisions of Sections 26(1) and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
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