A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present evidence of her acquittal by a UK court in her ongoing legal battle to recover assets previously forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the application on Wednesday after counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mofesomo Oyetibo (SAN), informed the court that the anti-graft agency would not oppose the request.

Diezani, through her lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, sought leave to file a supplementary affidavit to bring to the court’s attention her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in London on June 17 over criminal bribery allegations.

The former minister is seeking to reclaim assets forfeited in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is the sole respondent.

Although EFCC’s counsel described the application as unnecessary and said it would consume the court’s time, he confirmed that the commission was not objecting to the request.

Justice Ekwo subsequently granted the application and adjourned the case until October 6 for hearing, directing that both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit will be heard together on the next adjourned date.