A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke’s request to tender proof of her recent acquittal by a UK court, as she pursues the return of assets previously forfeited to the government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the request on Tuesday after Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, moved a motion filed on June 25. The motion seeks to add a supplementary affidavit to the case, citing the UK court’s decision as a new and significant development.
The Southwark Crown Court in London discharged and acquitted Diezani on June 17 of criminal bribery charges brought against her.
Counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mofesomo Oyetibo, said he had been served with the application. He argued the move would waste the court’s time but told Justice Ekwo the EFCC was not opposing it.
With no objection from the EFCC, Justice Ekwo granted the application and adjourned the matter to October 6. On that date, the court will hear both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and Diezani’s main suit to reclaim her forfeited assets together.
Diezani, who also served as president of OPEC, has been fighting legal battles in Nigeria and the UK over allegations of corruption tied to her time as minister.
