Former Petroleum Resources
Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, is to be extradited from Britain.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) is to approach Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar
Malami( SAN) this week with a request to file charges against Mrs
Alison-Madueke based on its findings.
As part of its investigation, the
EFCC had traced N47.2 billion and $487.5million to the ex-minister.
Justice Chuka Obiozor of the
Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, ordered the final forfeiture of the
property.
According to a fact-sheet, the
EFCC has concluded the investigation of the allegations against Mrs
Alison-Madueke.
More than 50 suspects in some of
the cases linked with her have been arraigned in court, especially the alleged
N23.29billion 2015 poll bribe.
The EFCC review team felt it will
be “in the interest of justice to extradite the ex-minister to Nigeria for
trial”. She is believed to be in Britain.
Some of the investigated
allegations against the ex-Minister, with substantial evidence, include the
following:
Release of $1.3b NNPC cash to the
Office of the national Security Adviser (ONSA) in 2014 to fight kidnapping in
Niger Delta; whereabouts of $18.5billion earnings by the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); $15.8billion NLNG dividends between 2000 and
2014( especially about $9b component between 2010 and 2015); $1.7billion oil
contracts involving Mrs Alison-Madueke and two business associates;
N23.29b 2015 poll bribery scam;
$37.5m property on Banana Island; and Acquisition of many properties at home,
in Britain, and in the UAE
A source, who spoke in
confidence, told The Nation that: “The EFCC has reached a convenient bend to
request for the extradition of Diezani from the UK. Most of the cases against
her have reached maturity level for her trial at home.
“The commission will formally
approach the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami( SAN)
to assist it to invoke the extradition treaty between Nigeria and the UK
against Diezani.
“Through the office of the AGF,
appropriate charges will be filed in court to commence the process for the
extradition of the ex-Minister.”
Responding to a question, the
source added: “The extradition process is without prejudice to the ongoing
investigation of Diezani in the UK.
“The US end of Diezani probe has
been done. The EFCC has also hauled evidence to the UK to assist the
authorities. Some detectives from the UK have visited this country too.
“For the Nigerian flank of the
probe, it is necessary to extradite Diezani to answer allegations against her.”
The source, however, added that
the AGF has the final say on whether or not to initiate the extradition
process. He stressed that all the allegations against the former minister are
within the extradition treaty between Nigeria and the UK.
“Having also alleged that the
said $153.3million was ‘wired’ from NNPC, the EFCC should also publish details
of the NNPC accounts from where the said $153.3 million was taken, with proof
that I authorised such a transaction/transactions, acting either in my private
capacity or as The Honourable Minister of Petroleum.
“Let me state for the record that
as Minister of Petroleum, the operation and management of NNPC finances were
outside my purview as outlined in both the Petroleum Act and the NNPC Act.
“The only involvement I had in
NNPC finances was in terms of statutory matters, where the Petroleum Act
prescribes that as minister, there were certain duties or actions which I had
to perform or take in relation to NNPC.”
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