Diezani Allison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, has appealed to Nigerians to offer their prayers in light of the serious allegations and charges of bribery and corruption brought against her by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA).
During a hearing on the fifth floor of the courtroom, she told members of the Nigerian community in the UK, “I need prayers. Please pray for me.”
Benedict Peters, who is represented by a prominent lawyer from Nigeria, expressed his opinion after the hearing that “the case is weak” and unlikely to proceed.
Speaking to the press outside the court, Emeka Ozoani (SAN) argued that “the NCA has invested five to six years in investigating the case and is attempting to justify their expenditures with taxpayers’ money. I came to represent one of the individuals linked to the case.”
When asked if he had traveled from Nigeria specifically for the hearing, he responded, “Yes, I came because of my client.”