Adoke’s Arrest in Dubai Violates Interpol Law, Ozekhome Tells Court

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), yesterday told an Abuja High Court that his arrest in Dubai violated the provisions of enabling law of the International Police Organisation (Interpol).

Speaking through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Adoke told Justice Danladi Senchi that the arrest and continued detention of his client up till yesterday was illegal, noting that there was no valid arrest warrant backing it.

Ozekhome said this when an application seeking the removal of Adoke’s name from the $1.1billion Malabu Oil scam was scheduled to come up for hearing.

Adoke, who had been on self-exile after he left office as the AGF in 2015, was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), by the Interpol on November 11 over the pending Malabu Oil charges which was instituted against him and others as far back as 2017.

Upon an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which filed the charges, Justice Senchi, on April 11, issued an arrest warrant against Adoke and the other defendants for not being available for arraignment.

On October 25, the same judge set aside the arrest warrant after Adoke and his co-defendants challenged its validity.

Ozekhome informed Justice Senchi yesterday that Adoke had travelled to Dubai for a medical check-up after the arrest warrant was vacated, only for him to be arrested based on the vacated arrest warrant.

He said, “When his (Adoke’s) warrant of arrest was vacated on October 25, he felt he should go for medical check-up in Dubai.

“He was arrested there based on the earlier court warrant of arrest.” Ozekhome faulted the arrest.