Connect with us

Politics

Court throws out Diezani’s request for trial in Nigeria

Published

on

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: Diezani begs court to join her as defendant in Belgore’s N500m fraud charge

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.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now

Click to comment

0 Comments

  1. Anita Kingsley

    November 1, 2017 at 2:51 pm

    If Diezani should get the chance to get back to Nigeria without completing her case in the UK, she’ll bribe all involved in her case. It is better they keep her there till the court frees her.

    • Animashaun Ayodeji

      November 1, 2017 at 2:57 pm

      Her stay abroad isjust delaying justice, she needs to return to her home country to face all the fraud charges EFCC placed against her

  2. Animashaun Ayodeji

    November 1, 2017 at 2:56 pm

    Keeping Diezani over there is like the federal government of Nigeria is helping her stay away from her case. If she comes to Nigeria, we’ll be able to extract direct information from her, which is exactly what we need right now.

    • JOHNSON PETER

      November 2, 2017 at 5:32 am

      No,she can easily buy justice in Nigeria, don’t forget we have corrupt judiciary.

      • Balarabe musa

        November 2, 2017 at 6:37 am

        Not on this one, no judge will try to do so

  3. Abeni Adebisi

    November 1, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    Her presence in Nigeria is not needed, all we need is justice to prevail both here and in UK that you are. If she comes to Nigeria, there’ll be delay in the justice if she comes here without finalizing her case in UK, there will be mix up for sure

    • yanju omotodun

      November 1, 2017 at 5:06 pm

      But it is necessary for her to come here as well and answer some questions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

17 − thirteen =