The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated extradition proceedings against Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources.
This development comes in response to allegations that she accepted bribes in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts, as stated by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in August.
Diezani’s UK court appearance
On the same day, Alison-Madueke was brought before the Westminster Magistrates Court in the United Kingdom (UK) to face charges related to an alleged £100,000 bribe.
District Judge Michael Snow granted her bail in the amount of £70,000 but imposed additional conditions due to concerns about her being a potential flight risk.
The EFCC expressed its approval of the former petroleum minister’s arraignment in the UK. Alison-Madueke is also under investigation in Nigeria for allegations of bribery and money laundering.
She had relocated to the UK shortly before the handover of power from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
The EFCC had previously accused Alison-Madueke of embezzling $2.5 billion from Nigeria’s funds during her tenure as minister, although she has consistently denied these allegations.
In a statement issued by Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, the commission emphasized that “criminality is criminality” regardless of jurisdiction.
The statement reads, “Although the charges preferred against her at the London court are diametrically different from the 13-count charges bordering on money laundering the EFCC has raised against her, it is instructive to note that criminality is criminality, irrespective of jurisdictional differences. No crime can go unpunished.”
“The money laundering charges for which Madueke is answerable to the EFCC cover jurisdictions in Dubai, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Nigeria.
To bring the former Minister to trial in Nigeria, an arrest warrant has been obtained, and extradition proceedings have been initiated. The Commission is on course for her trial. She will soon have her day in our courts.”