FORMER ATTORNEY- GENERAL OF NIGERIA ADOKE ‘ARRESTED IN DUBAI’

The sources added that, Ministry of Justice in Nigeria has been working on transmitting the order to Interpol in Dubai to secure Adoke’s release, but the process was being delayed because Attorney-General Abubakar Malami was not available.

Penpushing further reports that, Justice D. Z. Zenchi of the Federal Territory High Court in Abuja had in April issued a warrant for Adoke’s arrest following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency  has been pursuing the former Attorney General over claims he was involved in the controversial Malabu Oil deal, but he( Adoke) vehemently  denied links to the alleged fraud and has been on self-exile since vacating office in May 2015.

Penpushing further reports that, Adoke has repeatedly cited a court judgment that said he could not be prosecuted for actions he took while in office based on Presidential directives, and Justice Zenchi invalidated the arrest warrant on October 25 based on prayers from Adoke’s counsels who argued that the order was wrongfully procured.

The judge also asked the commission which seeks to prosecute the former Attorney General to serve him the court papers by substituted means, and in her ruling that day, the judge, after hearing the submissions of all the counsel, and upon perusal of all the affidavits in support of their motions, made the following orders:

*The arrest warrant issued for the arrest of the 4th-9th defendants in charge No FCT/HC/CR/124/2017 and to be executed by the police and the Interpol is declared null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

*Accordingly, the order of 17th April 2019 issuing a bench warrant on the 4th-9th defendants is hereby set aside and vacated.

*It is further ordered that the case be adjourned sine die until the prosecution takes the required procedural steps to effect service on the defendants herein.”

Penpushing further reports that, as at the time of the ‘arrest’ the Nigerian authorities seem to have failed to update Interpol overseas of the development on the case, as sources said Interpol officials in the United Arab Emirates,( UAE), were shocked when  Adoke told them the warrant for his arrest had since been vacated and that there was no basis to hold him.

Meanwhile, it is on record that, Nigeria Government  recently signed a mutual legal assistance treaty with the United Arab Emirates( UAE) that would, among others, ensure Nigerians accused of corruption and fraud, can be arrested in the  foreign country  and deported to Nigeria to face prosecution, while such persons could also have their properties in that country seized.