Former Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Tuesday signified her interest to
return to Nigeria and defend a criminal trial against her.
She
said this while urging a Lagos Federal High Court to compel the Attorney
General of the Federation, AGF, to bring her back to Nigeria from the United
Kingdom.
Others
involved in the trial include, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Belgore;
and a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.
The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had alleged that Belgore and
Suleiman were charged for allegedly collecting N450m from Diezani and
laundering the sum in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.
EFCC
alleged that the N450m was part of a sum of $115m which Diezani allegedly used
to compromise the 2015 general elections.
Onya
noted that contrary to the declaration by the EFCC that Diezani was at large,
the former minister was in the UK and was willing to return to Nigeria so that
she could appear in court to take her plea and defend the charges..
He
contended that since Diezani’s name had been linked to the charge, it would be
against her right to fair hearing for the case to proceed without affording her
the opportunity to defend herself.
Onya
said, “The statement made by the prosecution means that the applicant (Diezani)
is going to be convicted without being given the opportunity to defend herself.”
However,
EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed the application, saying it was not ripe
for hearing, as he had yet to be served.
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