Justice Valentine Ashi who ordered Diezani Madueke’s arrest is dead

A judge of the High Court 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, has died.

According to the Nation, Justice Ashi, who sits in Apo, died in an Abuja hospital from a yet-to-be disclosed ailment.

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

“Some members the late Justice Ashi’s family have 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 told Nation newspaper.

In 2018, reports had it that Justice Ashi, 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 Madueke within 72 hours.

The EFCC said it investigated the former minister with a businessman and Chairman, Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, Jide Omokore in relation to a petition by a group, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), dated October 2, 2013, which contained allegations of money laundering and official corruption

EFCC 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.