A federal high court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered the arrest of a former Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete.
The arrest warrant issued against Etete is bordering on his alleged involvement in the $1.1 billion Malabu oil deal.
The judge, Abubakar Kutigi gave the order following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
You May Also Like
The judge also issued an arrest warrant against two others — Munamuna Seidougha and Amaran Joseph — for their alleged involvement in the deal.
The EFCC accused them of fraudulently allocating oil processing licence (OPL) 245 to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited — a company Etete had an interest in.
The oil block was later reallocated to Agip, a subsidiary of Eni and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company in a controversial deal.
Bala Sanga, counsel to the EFCC, told the court that the application is to enable the anti-graft agency to arrest the accused persons who have been on the run.
“The kernel of the ex-parte application is that names of the respondents in the criminal charge CR/151/2020 were mentioned in count 14-42 of the charge and where indicated to be at large,” he said.
“Intelligence suggests they reside in France and occasionally in some African countries.
And to be able to get the support of the international police, the warrant of arrest would be needed.”
He said: “I have carefully gone through the application. The application has merit and it is granted as prayed.”
More Stories
Nigel Farage: ‘I did nothing wrong’ – The Cry of Every Corrupt Politician, from Nigeria to the UK
Islamic Cleric Arrested for Allegedly Making Charms for Kidnappers in Edo State
Ewatto Community in Turmoil as Cult Violence Forces Residents to Flee Homes
NDLEA Raids Multiple Illegal Warehouses, Arrests Suspects in Edo State
Three Dead, Others Injured in a Cult Attack in Edo State
