IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been summoned by a French court to answer questions over alleged abuse of office during her time as France's finance minister, her lawyer has said, according to BBC News.

Lagarde is to be questioned before a magistrate in May over her role in the awarding of financial compensation to businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008.

Lagarde, who took over as IMF chief in 2011, denies any wrongdoing. Her apartment was searched last month as part of the ongoing investigation.

As finance minister, Lagarde referred Tapie's long-running dispute with bank Credit Lyonnais to an arbitration panel, which awarded him 400m euros (£340m) damages. Tapie was a supporter of ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Critics say she abused her authority but Lagarde denies any wrongdoing.

When asked about the court case at the end of a news conference on Thursday, April 18 she replied: "There is nothing new under the sun and ever since 2011 I had known very well that I would be heard by the investigating commission of the Courts de Justice."

"I'll be very happy to travel for a couple of days to Paris but it's not going to change my focus, my attention and my enthusiasm for doing the work that I do."

Last month, the IMF issued a statement affirming its confidence in Lagarde.