BY DAYO ADESULU
Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke who presently lives in Dominica as a citizen and one of the country’s minister has been summoned by the Federal High Court, Abuja to answer for 13 counts charges on money laundering.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered Alison-Madueke, to appear for arraignment on money laundering charges preferred against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application shortly after it was moved by EFCC’s lawyer, Faruk Abdullah.
The 13 counts of money laundering levelled against Alison-Madueke includes $39.7m (N14.29bn at N360 to $1) and N3.32bn said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
In her ruling, Justice Ojukwu on Friday ordered that the summons she issued on Friday should be published on the website of the EFCC and a national daily in a conspicuous manner.
The judge adjourned the case until October 28 for the defendant’s arraignment.e have done everything we needed to do.
Meanwhile, Diezani who is still on trial for corruption back home in Nigeria in June 2020 lobbied to become Trade and Investment Commissioner of the Dominican Republic and bagged a diplomatic passport from the island government to boot.
With the diplomatic passport, she is immune to arrest by any law enforcement agency, including the Interpol,” one EFCC operative who asked not to be named in this story.
Ibrahim Magu, the former EFCC boss had in June 2020 said Alison-Madueke lobbied to be appointed as Trade and Investment Commissioner with effect from June 1, 2015.
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“A diplomatic passport issued on May 21, 2015, with an expiry date of May 20, 2020, came with the offer of appointment,” the document from the EFCC reads.”