The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has bowed to pressure as it has dropped its charges against the former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The EFCC today through Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), counsel to the EFCC, applied to remove the ex-minister’s name from a money laundering trial. The application was made before Binta Nyako, justice of the Federal High court, Abuja.
The application for the removal of the ex-minister’s name came after counsel to Jide Omokore, an associate of Diezani who is also the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited argued that his client would not plea before the court in the absence of an evidence of service on Madueke and one Kolawole Akane.
Jide Omokore’s counsel pressed further adding that the former minister and Akane were charged together with his client but the prosecution had side stepped them and focused mainly on Omokore.
The presiding judge in his ruling held that the charge was not ripe for plea.
The EFCC following the ruling verbally applied to remove the ex-minster’s name and Akane’s from the charge sheet.
Omokore following the move by EFCC’s counsel was thereafter made to take the plea.