Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application by former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, seeking leave to present evidence of her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom.
Justice Ekwo approved the motion on notice moved by Diezani’s counsel, Godwin Iyinbor, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Mofesomo Oyetibo, declined to oppose the application.
The Southwark Crown Court had, on June 17, discharged and acquitted the former minister of criminal bribery allegations brought against her in the United Kingdom.
Diezani is challenging the forfeiture of her assets in a suit pending before the Federal High Court.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, both parties regularised their filed processes before Iyinbor sought leave to move the motion on notice filed on June 25.
According to Iyinbor, the application sought permission to file a further and supplementary affidavit to bring before the court what he described as a fresh and material development arising from Diezani’s acquittal by the UK court. He also asked the court to deem the supplementary affidavit as properly filed and served.
Responding, Oyetibo confirmed receipt of the application. Although he argued that the motion was intended to waste the court’s judicial time, he informed the judge that the EFCC was not opposing the application.
Justice Ekwo then granted the application as prayed and adjourned the matter until October 6 for hearing.
The judge further directed that, on the next adjourned date, the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit would be heard together.
