By TAIYE AGBAJE

Mr 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.

Eneanya, who gave his testimony virtually from the Federal High Court in Abuja, said he was an investigator employed by the EFCC.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the proceeding was taken virtually by Justice James Omotosho in accordance with Mutual Assistance In Criminal Matters Act, 2018, and other applicable laws.

The hearing was based on request from the UK Central Authorities for witnesses to testify from Nigeria to the trial court where Mrs Justice Thornton is the presiding judge.

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 Alison-Madueke’s residence in Nigeria.

The witness confirmed that the documents were recovered from her house on Oct. 2, 2015.

He confirmed that Abdulrasheed Bawa was the investigating officer at the time.

NAN recalls that Bawa later served as Chairman of EFCC during the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Eneanya also confirmed that the inventory of the recovered documents were done by Bawa.

After the witness’ evidence-in-chief was taken, the 1st defendant (Alison-Madueke)’s lawyer Cross-examined him

Under cross-examination, Eneanya was asked if he knew that the documents recovered from the ex-minister’s residence were seized since 2015 and he responded in affirmative.

When he was asked if he was in EFCC on Oct. 2, 2015 when the search was conducted, the witness responded in affirmative.

“I joined EFCC 20 years ago. I joined April 2006,” he said.

When he was asked if he was part of the team that searched the former minister’s residence, Eneanya responded in the negative.

He said his team started the examination of the documents late December 2025 following the request.

When he was asked if he had anything to do with the exhibits before this time, the witness said: “No, until last year December.”

He said he was not part of the investigating team that conducted the search on the residence.

He said the team was provided with inventory of the documents in the exhibits by Bawa.

After several questions were put across to the witness, Eneanya was discharged from the witness box.

However, a lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Olubunmi Ikupolati, told Justice Omotosho that efforts to bring the second witness were unsuccessful.

“My lord, we contacted him since yesterday but he is not given any definite answer,” he said

The trial was subsequently adjourned.

Besides Eneanya’s testimony, Justice Omotosho took evidence of four witnesses on Feb. 25.

NAN observes that the charge, marked: CS/72/2026, on Justice 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 Alison-Madueke, Ayinde Olatimbo Bukola and Agama Doye as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

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 she was first arrested 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.

All charges are linked to the awarding of oil and gas contracts during her time in office, according to UK authorities and media reports.

British investigators alleged she received at least 100,000 British pounds 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 Jan. 26 in the UK, is expected to and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks, and could carry significant penalties if she is convicted.

Under the U.K. Bribery Act, she can face up to 10 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

The ex-minister is being prosecuted alongside Ayinde and Doye. (NAN)

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