$1.1bn Malabu Scam: Judge Fixes Adoke, Others’ Arraignment, Today

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gwagwalada has fixed, today, for the arraignment of a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and six others.
Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi told parties to return by 2pm on January 23, 2020 for arraignment, when it became obvious on Wednesday that not all the defendants have been served with copies of the 42-count charge brought against them by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Adoke, who served as AGF under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was to be arraigned on a 42-count charge, following alleged role he played in the $1.1billion Malabu Oil bloc fraud.
Other defendants in the charge marked FCT/CR/151/2020, are Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.
They are charged with fraud in the handling of the settlement agreement on the Malabu Oil deal effected under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
However, when the case was called up, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Bala Sanga, told the court that the prosecution was unable to serve all the defendants with the charge.
He told the court that the 2nd defendant, Abubakar was on the run and was arrested about 15 minutes before the proceeding commenced.
All the defendants (three human beings and four companies) were present at the proceedings that began around 2.30pm, yesterday.
Adoke, dressed in all white, looked frail and old.
All the defendants were represented by lawyers (who were all Senior Advocate), except the fourth defendant (Nigeria Agip Exploration Company), whose representative said the company’s lawyer was not aware that the case was scheduled for 2pm, yesterday.
The lead prosecution lawyer, Bala Sanga said the prosecution was yet to serve all the defendants.
He sought time to enable the prosecution effect service on all the defendants, a request Justice Kutigi acceded to, and adjourned till 2pm, today.
The judge ordered the prosecution to ensure that all the defendants were served, today, and that all necessary applications for bail were also filed preparatory to today’s proceedings.