The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present evidence of a United Kingdom court judgment acquitting her of bribery allegations.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the application after it was moved by Diezani’s counsel, Godwin Iyinbor, and was not opposed by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mofesomo Oyetibo.
The Southwark Crown Court in London had, on June 17, discharged and acquitted Alison-Madueke of criminal bribery allegations brought against her.
The application forms part of an ongoing suit in which the former minister is seeking to reclaim assets previously forfeited.
At Thursday’s proceedings, both parties regularised their court processes before Iyinbor sought leave to move a motion on notice filed on June 25.
According to him, the application sought permission to file a further and supplementary affidavit to bring to the court’s attention what he described as a fresh and material development—the UK court’s acquittal of his client.
He also asked the court to deem the supplementary affidavit as properly filed.
Responding, EFCC counsel Oyetibo confirmed receipt of the application. While he argued that the motion was intended to waste the court’s judicial time, he told the court that the commission was not opposing the application when asked by the judge.
Justice Ekwo subsequently granted the application as requested.
The court adjourned the matter until October 6 for hearing, directing that both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit would be heard together on the next adjourned date.
