A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until March 2020 to extradite former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to Nigeria.
EFCC opened a case against Diezani in November 2018 accusing her of unlawfully taking into her possession $39.7 million and N3.32 billion with which she allegedly bought choice properties in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt in Rivers State, while she was in office.
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Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, however, told the EFCC on Tuesday that she would strike out the money laundering case if it fails to present the defendant in court by March 2020.
Diezani has been in the United Kingdom facing corruption investigations since 2015 when she left office as minister.
EFCC prosecutor, Faruk Abdullah, had requested for an indefinite adjournment pending when Diezani is extradited.
“My docket is not going to be a waiting room for the prosecution. I will give you one more adjournment. If nothing happens on the next date, I will strike it out,” the judge said, adjourning till March 10.
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In September, a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the permanent forfeiture of 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone valued at $40 million belonging to Diezani.
EFCC had told the judge that the former minister did not use her salary or any of her legitimate income to acquire the assets in question.
