The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present evidence of her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom in her ongoing legal battle over forfeited assets.
Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the application on Wednesday after counsel to Alison-Madueke, Godwin Iyinbor, moved the motion and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) indicated it had no objection.
The EFCC was represented in court by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mofesomo Oyetibo.
The development follows the June 17 decision of the Southwark Crown Court in London, which discharged and acquitted the former minister of criminal bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom.
Alison-Madueke is currently challenging the forfeiture of her assets before the Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, with the EFCC listed as the sole respondent.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, both parties first regularised their court filings before Iyinbor sought leave to move a motion on notice filed on June 25.
According to the defence counsel, the application sought permission to file a further and supplementary affidavit to bring the UK court’s acquittal to the attention of the Federal High Court as a fresh and significant development in the case.
He also urged the court to deem the additional affidavit as properly filed and served.
Responding, Oyetibo confirmed that the EFCC had received the application but argued that it merely sought to inform the court of Alison-Madueke’s acquittal in the United Kingdom.
When Justice Ekwo asked whether the anti-graft agency intended to oppose the application, the EFCC’s counsel replied that the commission had no objection.
The court subsequently granted the application and adjourned the matter until October 6 for hearing.
Justice Ekwo also ruled that the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit would be heard together on the next adjourned date.
