The order was issued by the presiding judge on Monday, following an appeal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Farouk Abdullah, for an arrest warrant against the ex-minister.

Recall that the case was originally assigned to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, but after Ojukwu was transferred to the Calabar division of the court, the case was reassigned to Justice Olajuwon.

Ojukwu had, on October 28, 2020, rejected the EFCC’s prayer to issue a warrant of arrest against Alison-Madueke, citing the commission’s failure to enforce the earlier criminal summons.

But Abdullah had informed the court that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) needed an arrest warrant to enable law enforcement agencies to bring the defendant to Nigeria to answer to charges against her.

She then directed the EFCC counsel to file “an affidavit to that effect supported by evidence from the office of the attorney-general of the federation”.

Following Ojukwu’s transfer to Olajuwon, the court fixed November 3, 2021, for the EFCC to give a report on its effort at extraditing Alison-Madueke to the country to stand her trial, and for possible mention of the case.

But on the adjourned date, the case was stalled as neither the EFCC counsel nor Alison-Madueke was present in court.

The presiding judge then fixed today, Jan. 24, for the matter and adjourned for a report or possible mention of the matter, but the defendant was not present in court to defend her trial.

During the court session on Monday, Abdullah told the court that the agency’s attempts to extradite the ex-minister when the case was before Ojukwu were futile.

In an oral application, he argued that an arrest warrant was needed to allow the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) to send the defendant to Nigeria to face the allegations.

The judge approved the application for an arrest warrant and adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely) until the defendant (Diezani) is arrested and brought before the court.