A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday demanded that former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Maudeke, appear before it and answer to a money laundering charge filed against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ruling on an ex-parte motion, Justice Ijeoma Ojkukwu ordered the issuance of summons on Diezani for her to attend court for the purpose of her arraignment on the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.
The court directed that the EFCC publish the summons on the website of the EFCC and a national daily in order for Mrs Diezani who is believed to be now in the United Kingdom (UK) to to get know.
Justice Ojukwu adjourned till October 28 this year for Diezani to come to court for the purpose of her arraignment on the money laundering charge.
Arguing the motion, EFCC’s lawyer, Faruk Abdallah, noted that since Diezani allegedly fled the country, it was difficult to get her back to respond to the various criminal allegations against her.
Abdallah said there was the need for a court’s summons or arrest warrant to compel her appearance in court.
It said Dezani was required to clear air on “her role in financing the 2015 general elections, particularly the money that were warehoused at Fidelity Bank Plc in 20015 prior to the elections.”
