Abuja — A Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has ordered the arrest of former petroleum resources minister, Chief Dan Etete, and two others allegedly involved in the controversial $1.1 billion Malabu Oil deal.
The other two persons are Munamuna Seidougha and Amaran Joseph.
The arrest order issued by Justice Abubakar Kutigi,followed an ex-parte application and affidavit brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The judge directed the Inspector General of Police to arrest the former Minister and the two others and produce them before the court.
The EFCC, through its team of lawyers led by Mr Bala Sanga, had told the court that Etete and the other two persons played roles in the alleged fraudulent allocation of the lucrative Oil Processing Licence 245 to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited in 1998.
EFCC also told the court that Etete and the two persons were at large and have refused to make themselves available for trial in the 42 counts charge in the illegal Malabu Oil transactions recently filed against the immediate-past Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), and six others.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the three suspects have been mentioned as defendants in corruption charges pending before different courts.
It said they have been residing in France and were occasionally sighted in different parts of Europe.