The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, fixed a May 17 deadline for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to submit a report on how it has complied with the court order in the trial of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The two weeks ultimatum was given by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in her ruling on Wednesday, following the absence of the EFCC’s lawyer, Farouk Abdullah, in court during trial.
This was because the matter which was earlier fixed for the report or arraignment of the ex-minister, could not proceed as neither Abdullah nor Diezani was in court.
Justice Ojukwu further directed the court’s Registrar to issue the prosecution counsel with the next hearing notice.
It would be recalled that the court had in December last year adjourned the matter until March 3 this year, following the inability of the anti-graft agency to fully comply with its orders in the trial of Diezani.
The Judge fixed the date after counsel to the EFCC, Abdullah, prayed the court for more time to enable the EFCC ensure full compliance with the court orders.
“The prosecutions has taken steps to ensure that the orders are complied with; that has not come to fruition yet but steps have been taken.
“In view of this, may I humbly apply that this matter be adjourned to enable the prosecution to comply fully with the order of the court,” Abdullah had said.
The Judge had subsequently refused to grant the EFCC’s application seeking the court order on the issuance of the warrant of arrest against Diezani, on grounds that an affidavit with evidence in support to prove that the earlier court summon granted the agency, had failed in the extradition of Diezani must be filed by the commission before another request could be made.
