Court fixes October 3 for arraignment of Alison-Madueke

A federal high court in Apo has fixed October 3, for the arraignment of Deziani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum, on five counts bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications.

NAN reports that the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leave to arraign Alison-Madueke and Olajide Omokore, former chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, on five counts on  February 25.

The date was fixed, on Wednesday, following the absence of Valentine Ashi, trial judge, who was on another official engagement.

Faruk Abdullahi, counsel to the EFCC, had told the court on February 25, that the arraignment would not hold as Alison-Madueke and her co-accused were not in court.

Abdullahi explained that the EFCC had forwarded a request to the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) for onward commencement of Alison-Madueke’s repatriation process from the United Kingdom.

He said the absence of the second defendant (Omokore) was linked to the commission’s inability to serve him with the court’s processes.

The prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court for further adjournment to enable the team tidy up its house.

Adeniyi Adegbonmire, counsel to Omokore, said his client was prepared to stand trial but that the right process to commence the trial must be adhered to.

Alison-Madueke and Omokore are billed to be arraigned on five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal acts of accepting and giving bribe.

EFCC averred that the accused persons had conspired at different levels to commit the fraud.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that the ex-minister accepted gift of properties described as penthouse 22, block B, Admiralty estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana island, Lagos.

The EFCC said the alleged offence contravened the provisions of sections 26 (1) and 17 of the EFCC Act, 2000.

In December last year, the trial judge had ordered the police, EFCC, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to produce Diezani in court within 72 hours.

Ashi gave the order, following an ex parte motion made before the court by the counsel to the anti-graft agency.