Alison-Madueke to be arraign Oct.3
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/05/alison-madueke-to-be-arraign-oct3.html
The FCT High Court, Apo on Wednesday fixed Oct. 3, for the
arraignment of Deziani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum 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 Feb. 25.
The date was fixed following the absence of Justice Valentine Ashi, trial judge who was on another official engagement.
Mr Faruk Abdullahi, Counsel to the EFCC had told the court on Feb.
25, that the arraignment would not hold as Alison-Madueke and her
co-accused were not in court.
Abdullahi explained that the EFCC had forwarded a request to the
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for onward commencement of
Alison-Madueke’s repatriation process from the United Kingdom.
He said the absence of the second defendant, (Omokore) was linked to
the commission’s inability to serve him with the court’s processes.
The prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court for further adjournment to enable the team tidy up its house.
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 aso 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)
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