The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke permission to present evidence of her acquittal in the United Kingdom as part of her ongoing bid to reclaim assets forfeited to the Nigerian government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the unopposed motion on Wednesday after Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, sought the court’s leave to file a supplementary affidavit highlighting her discharge and acquittal by London’s Southwark Crown Court on June 17 over bribery allegations.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Mofesomo Oyetibo, SAN, confirmed it had been served with the application. While Oyetibo suggested the motion was aimed at wasting the court’s time, noting it merely sought to inform the judge that the applicant had been “exonerated in the UK,” he told the court the EFCC would not oppose it.
Justice Ekwo granted the application as requested, allowing the supplementary affidavit to be deemed properly filed.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, is Alison-Madueke’s substantive suit against the EFCC — the sole respondent — seeking to recover her forfeited assets. The judge adjourned the matter to October 6, when both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the main suit will be heard together.
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