Compel FG To Repatriate Me To Nigeria, Alison-Madueke Begs Court
The former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Tuesday, urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to compel the federal government to facilitate her return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom to enable her defend herself in the ongoing trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore and a former Minister for National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman on alleged laundering of N450m.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke in an application filed on her behalf by her lawyer, Obinna Onya, is specifically asking the court to mandate the Attorney General of the Federation, being the agent of the FG, to facilitate her prompt appearance before the court on the next adjourned date to enable her take her plea and to defend the allegations made against her in the charge instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The embattled former Minister insisted that she would like to appear in court in Nigeria to defend the criminal charge bordering on alleged laundering of N450m, where her name was mentioned.
Belgore, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain who contested the governorship election in Kwara State in 2015 and the former Minister, who served during President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration, were arraigned on a five count charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.
The EFCC alleged that the duo in 2014, on or about March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves to directly take possession of N450 million, which they reasonably knew to be proceed of crimes.
The commission alleged that the N450m was part of a sum of $115m which Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly doled out to compromise the 2015 general elections.
The two defendants were also alleged to have on March 27, 2015, transferred the sum of N50 million to one Sheriff Shagaya, without going through financial institutions.
Although the name of the former Minister was mentioned in the suit, she was declared as being at large by the EFCC.
The alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, are contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(d),1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3), 4 and 16(2)(b)of the same Act.
The two defendants however pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Onya told the trial judge, Justice Aikawa that he had an application seeking the leave of the court to name Mrs Alison-Madueke as one of the defendants in the matter.
The lawyer, who maintained that the application was filed pursuant to Section 36(1),(5),(6 (a)-(e) of the Constitution and sections 216 (1) (2) (3) (4); and 217 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, prayed the court to amend the charge against Belgore and Suleiman, so as to join his client as one of the defendants.
He also submitted that contrary to the declaration by the EFCC that Mrs. Alison-Madueke was at large, the former minister was in the UK and was willing to return to Nigeria so that she could appear in court to take her plea and defend the charges against her.
Onya further argued that since the former Minister’s name had been mentioned in the charge, it would be against her right to fair hearing for the case to proceed without affording her the opportunity to defend herself.
He contended that, “The statement made by the prosecution means that the applicant (Diezani) is going to be convicted without being given the opportunity to defend herself.”
However, in his reaction, Oyedepo urged the court to dismiss the argument of Onya, stating that the application was not yet ripe for hearing, as he had not been served with a copy to enable him respond.
In a short ruling, Justice Aikawa held that the court could not entertain the application until all the parties in the matter had been properly served.
Also during Tuesday’s proceedings, the second prosecution witness, Usman Zakari, tendered two letters written to the EFCC in relation to the case by Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited and Guaranty Trust Bank.
The judge admitted the two letters as exhibits in evidence against the defendants.
However, attempt by the EFCC counsel to tender a trail of electronic mail communication between Diezani and the Managing director of a new generation bank was resisted by the defence lawyers, Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN).
The two lawyers argued that the document was not admissible because it did not meet the requirement of the Evidence Act.
Based on the development, Oyedepo urged the court for an adjournment to enable him counter the objection raised by the defence team.
Justice Aikawa then adjourned the matter till Wednesday, October 4 for continuation of trial.
Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Muhammed Dele Belgore and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about the 27th day of March, 2015, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to directly take possession of N450, 000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same Act.
Count two reads: “That you, Muhammed Dele Belgore, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly took possession of the sum of N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira ) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same Act.
And count three reads: “that you, Muhammed Dele Belgore, and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, on or about the 27th day of March,2015 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: making cash payment of the sum of N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law without going through financial institution and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b),16(2)(b) of the same Act.
And count four reads: “that you, Muhammed Dele Belgore, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without going through financial institution, made cash payment in the sum of N450, 000, 000.00 (Four hundred and Fifty Million Naira) which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
