The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present evidence of her recent acquittal by a United Kingdom court in her ongoing legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the recovery of forfeited assets.
Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the application on Wednesday after counsel to the former minister, Godwin Iyinbor, sought leave to file a supplementary affidavit informing the court of the latest development in the UK proceedings.
The application was not opposed by the EFCC’s counsel, Mofesomo Oyetibo (SAN).
Alison-Madueke was discharged and acquitted by the Southwark Crown Court in London on June 17 over criminal bribery allegations brought against her by UK authorities.
The former minister had instituted a suit before the Federal High Court, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, seeking to recover assets earlier forfeited to the Federal Government. The EFCC is the sole respondent in the matter.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, both parties regularised their court processes before Iyinbor urged the court to grant leave for the filing of a further affidavit to bring what he described as a fresh and significant development to the court’s attention.
He argued that the additional affidavit was necessary to formally present evidence of his client’s acquittal by the UK court and prayed the court to deem the process as properly filed.
Although Oyetibo acknowledged receiving the application, he remarked that the motion appeared aimed at consuming the court’s time, noting that it merely sought to notify the court that the applicant had been cleared of the charges in the United Kingdom.
Justice Ekwo, however, sought clarification on whether the anti-graft agency intended to oppose the application.
In response, the EFCC lawyer confirmed that the commission had no objection.
The judge subsequently granted the application and adjourned the matter until October 6 for hearing.
Justice Ekwo also directed that both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit would be heard together on the next adjourned date.