The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a summon on former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Maudeke, ordering her to go and clear a money laundering charge filed against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At the trial on Friday, Counsel for EFCC, Farouk Abdallah, told the court that since Diezani allegedly fled the country, it had been difficult to get her back to respond to the various criminal allegations against her.
Abdallah said there will be need for a court’s summons or arrest warrant to compel her appearance in court.
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He said there is need for her to go and explain as the Minister of Petroleum Resources and her role in the award of Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) to Septa Energy Limited, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited by the NNPC.
Others include the chartering of private jets by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The EFCC also wants her to clear issues on some documents and jewellery recovered from her house at No: 10 Chiluba Close, off Jose Marti Street, Asokoro, Abuja, and some properties that are linked to her in Nigeria, the UK, United States of America (USA), United Arab Emirate (UAE) and South Africa.
Justice Ijeoma Ojkukwu in her ruling, ordered Diezani to appear in court in the next adjourned date and that the court’s summons should be published on the website of the EFCC and a national daily, in a conspicuous manner, to enable Diezani attend the court for the purpose of her arraignment on a charge.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
