Judge who ordered Diezani’s arrest dies

A High Court judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Valentine Ashi, who ordered security agencies to arrest and produce the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, within 72 hours, is dead.



It was gathered that the judge died on Thursday June 27th in an Abuja hospital from an udisclosed ailment.



Authorities of the FCT High Court also confirmed the development but assured a formal statement will be issued on Monday, with the authority of the Chief Judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, The Nation reports.


“Some members the late Justice Ashi’s family has visited the court’s management to inform the court about the unfortunate incident. I can confirm that they said he died on Thursday in the course of an illness. But, the court will issue a formal statement on Monday,” a senior official of the court said.

Ashi had on 4 December, 2018, upon an ex-parte motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordered the agency, Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSSS) and all other security agencies to arrest Alison-Madueke and produce her in court within 72 hours.



EFCC said added that its investigation showed that Diezani, as supervising minister of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, allegedly engaged in illicit and monumental fraudulent dealings in oil transactions, which she entered into on behalf of the Federal Government.