Court throws out Diezani’s request for trial in Nigeria

The application by the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, praying the court that she should be joined as a defendant in an alleged fraud case in Nigeria has been thrown out by the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The presiding judge in the matter, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who sacked the application on Wednesday, said the prayer was bizarre and a misuse of court processes.

Diezani, who is currently under investigation and on bail in the United Kingdom (UK), had through her lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), begged the court to, in the sole interest of justice, allow her as a defendant in the matter.

The case the minister had sought to be joined as a defendant, is the N450 million corruption charges leveled against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore and a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

Diezani had argued through her lawyer that since her name was referred to as an accomplice in the matter, that it will be against the interest of justice not to join her in the charge.

Counsel to the first defendant in the matter, Mr. E. O.. Shofunde (SAN), and the prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had both objected to the application by Diezani to be part of the trial.

READ ALSO: Court Refuses To Join Alison-Madueke As Defendant In Alleged $1.6b Oil Scam

Subsequently, Justice Aikawa had adjourned the matter till November 1, for ruling.

When the case came up this Wednesday, the trial judge, while dismissing the application, noted that he was not going to allow himself to be used to frustrate Diezani’s imminent trial in the UK.

The judge rejected all of Diezani’s prayers, including an order mandating the Attorney General of the Federation to facilitate her return from the UK.

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