Court Orders EFCC, DSS To Arrest Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Within 72 Hours

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to arrest the former minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke within 72 hours.

The order was issued by Justice Valentine Ashi based on a motion filed by the counsel to the EFCC, Msuur Denga.

On Tuesday, November 5, 2018, Denga prayed the court to issue a warrant for the former minister’s arrest to enable the anti-graft agency arraign her in court for the alleged financial crimes she committed in Nigeria.

The EFCC said it had investigated the former minister along with Omokore, a former Chairman, Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, following a petition dated October 2, 2013, from the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, bordering on money laundering and official corruption.

EFCC added in a statement:

“Investigations into the petition revealed that Madueke as supervising minister of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, was found to have engaged in illicit and monumental fraudulent dealings in oil transactions, which she entered into on behalf of the Federal Government.

“Madueke and Omokore, are also alleged to have accepted and given gifts in properties located at Penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, Banana Island, Lagos. They are to be arraigned on February 25, 2019 on a five-count for the offences, which are contrary to Sections 26(1) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

The EFCC had said Alison-Madueke left the country for the United Kingdom while investigations into the allegations against her were ongoing.

It said the former minister had since refused to honour EFCC’s invitation to return to the country to be prosecuted.