Gratification: EFCC Writes Malami On Diezani’s Extradition

Gratification: EFCC Writes Malami On Diezani’s Extradition

As a Federal Capital Territory High Court begins trial of former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, over economic and financial crimes bordering on conspiracy and acceptance of bribe, the agency has written the Attorney General of the Federation to begin the process of repatriating her to face prosecution.

The former minister has been residing in the United Kingdom since leaving office in 2015 and has remained quiet despite mounting allegations of graft against her.

But the EFCC has dragged her before Justice Valentine Ashi of the FCT High Court, asking the court to try her for the offences of conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications.

She was to be arraigned on Monday but she was nowhere to be found either in the court or in Nigeria as at the time the case was called up before the judge.

The same judge had on December 4, 2018, ordered the EFCC and other security agencies, to ensure that Diezani is brought to the court 72 hours after she returns to Nigeria to face the fraud charges.

But unable to produce the former influential minister in court, the prosecution led by Faruk Abdullahi, informed the court that EFCC had already written to the AGF, Abuubakar Malami, seeking the extradition of Diezani.

Abdullahi said: “The Commission has written the AGF with a view to kick-starting the extraditing process so as to enable her face her trial, as she is still in the United Kingdom.”

“Entitled “Letter of Request to Extradite Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke from the United Kingdom”, it was received by the office of the AGF on December 14, 2018.

It reads in part: “The Commission recently filed charges against Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke in both the Federal High Court (Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018) and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Charge No. CR/22/2018).

Diezani and Jide Omokore, a former Chairman, Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, who were supposed to be arraigned by the Commission on February 25, 2019, are 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.