Chinedu Eneanya, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday testified in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke at Southwark Crown Court in the UK.
Mr Eneanya, who gave his testimony virtually from the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, said he was an EFCC investigator.
The proceeding was taken virtually by Justice James Omotosho in accordance with the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2018, and other applicable laws.
The hearing was based on a request from the UK Central Authorities for witnesses to testify from Nigeria to the UK trial court, where Justice Thornton is presiding.
Mr Eneanya, while being led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer in the UK court, confirmed that the EFCC received a request from the UK authority to review documents recovered during the raid on Mrs Alison-Madueke’s residence in Nigeria.
The witness confirmed that the documents were recovered from her house on October 2, 2015, and that Abdulrasheed Bawa was the investigating officer at the time.
Mr Bawa later served as the EFCC chairman during the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Mr Eneanya also confirmed that the inventory of the recovered documents was done by Mr Bawa.
After the witness’ evidence-in-chief was taken, the first defendant’s (Mrs Alison-Madueke) lawyer cross-examined him.
Under cross-examination, Mr Eneanya was asked if he knew that the documents recovered from the ex-minister’s residence had been seized since 2015, and he responded in the affirmative.
When asked if he was in EFCC on October 2, 2015, when the search was conducted, the witness responded in the affirmative.
“I joined EFCC 20 years ago. I joined in April 2006,” he said.
When asked if he was part of the team that searched the former minister’s residence, Mr Eneanya responded in the negative.
He said his team began examining the documents in late December 2025 in response to the request.
Asked if he had anything to do with the exhibits before this time, the witness said, “Not until last year, December.”
He said he was not part of the investigating team that conducted the search of the residence. He said Mr Bawa provided the team with an inventory of the documents in the exhibits.
After several questions were put to the witness, Mr Eneanya was discharged from the witness box.
However, a lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Olubunmi Ikupolati, told Mr Omotosho that efforts to bring the second witness were unsuccessful.
“My lord, we contacted him since yesterday, but he is not giving any definite answer,” he said.
The trial was subsequently adjourned.
Besides Mr Eneanya’s testimony, Mr Omotosho took evidence from four witnesses on February 25.
The charge, marked CS/72/2026, on Mr Omotosho’s cause list is titled “In the Matter of Application for the Taking of the Evidence of Witnesses in Nigeria Via Video Link for Use in Criminal Proceedings in Accordance with Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act,” and it listed Mrs Alison-Madueke, Ayinde Olatimbo Bukola, and Agama Doye as the first to third defendants, respectively.
Mrs Alison-Madueke, who was in office from 2010 to 2015, was the first female Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria and the first woman president of the global oil cartel, Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), between 2014 and 2015.
The 65-year-old had been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015.
The ex-minister, who is being prosecuted on corruption-related charges, denied the six charges against her, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
According to UK authorities and media reports, all charges are linked to the awarding of oil and gas contracts during her time in office.
British investigators alleged she received at least £100,000 in cash along with benefits that prosecutors characterise as “financial or other advantages,” including private jet flights, chauffeur-driven cars, the use and upkeep of London property, luxury goods, and school fees for her son.
The trial, which commenced on January 26 in the UK, is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks and could carry significant penalties if she is convicted.
Under the UK Bribery Act, she can face up to 10 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
The ex-minister is being prosecuted alongside Messrs Ayinde and Doye.
(NAN)