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EFCC gets court nod to arraign Diezani, Omokore

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EFCC gets court nod to arraign Diezani, Omokore

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was on Monday granted leave to arraign former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and a former chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling company, Olajide Omokore.

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, gave the leave for the two accused to be arraigned on February 25 by the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC is accusing the duo of committing offences bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications and will be arraigning them on five counts anchored on those allegations.

The prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdullahi had told the court that while investigations were ongoing, the former minister left the country and is currently in the UK.

He further claimed that Diezani declined to honour an invitation by the EFCC to appear at the commission.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the second defendant, Tayo Adeniyo (SAN), told the court that his client was not served with the charges and his client was ready to clear his name.

The trial judge, Justice Valentine Ashi, after listening to the arguments granted the EFCC leave to arraign the accused persons.

EFCC among others is arranging the suspects for allegedly receiving and giving gifts of properties described as penthouse 22 , Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana Island, Lagos.

READ ALSO : Why I removed EFCC seal from my building marked as Fayose’s —Ekiti lawmaker

According to the commission, the supposed offences contravened the provisions of Sections 26 (1) and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Recall that the EFCC had on September 11, said it was making efforts to repatriate Diezani from the United Kingdom in order to try her in Nigeria.

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