The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present evidence of her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in her ongoing legal battle to reclaim forfeited assets.
Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the application after Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, requested leave to file a supplementary affidavit containing the UK court’s judgment, which discharged and acquitted her of bribery allegations on June 17.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, **Mofesomo Oyetibo>, acknowledged receiving the application and said it was intended to waste the court’s time. However, when asked by the judge whether the anti-graft agency opposed the motion, he confirmed that it did not object.
Justice Ekwo subsequently granted the application as requested and adjourned the matter until October 6, when both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit seeking the return of Diezani’s forfeited assets will be heard together.
