NEWS
Bello Adoke finally returns to Nigeria after five-week legal deadlock
Former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has finally left Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for Nigeria after a five-week legal deadlock.
He had earlier been arrested by Interpol on arrival in Dubai on the morning of November 11 when he went for his medicals.
Interpol was executing a warrant of arrest issued against Adoke — even though it had been quashed.
Although the high court of the federal capital territory issued the warrant on April 17, 2019 based an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the court vacated the order on October 25, 2019.
While the warrant was sent to Interpol by Nigeria, the vacating order was not transmitted to the global body.
The Interpol had requested Adoke’s lawyers to get the Nigerian authorities to attest to the vacating order but Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, refused to endorse the documents, effectively leaving his predecessor in limbo.
Dubai police made Adoke sign an undertaking that he chose to return to Nigeria on his own without pressure from them or anybody else
The agreements cover extradition and transfer of sentenced persons; mutual legal assistance on criminal matters; and mutual legal assistance on criminal and commercial matters.
Again, the EFCC was unable to pursue that line of action because it has to go through court processes in UAE.
With the logjam running into weeks, Adoke has opted for voluntary return to the country, repeating an offer he had made to Interpol when he was arrested, according to sources.
The police in Dubai, in a document seen below, tried to distance themselves from his return to the country.
The undertaking signed by Adoke with the police read: “I would go to NIGERIA authorities to solve my problem, and without any stress or pressure from Dubai Police or anyone.”
