The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained an arrest warrant for Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the arrest warrant is part of processes as the anti-graft agency it begins moves to extradite Deziani from the United Kingdom back to Nigeria.
Deziani is to face a 13-count charge bordering on money laundering levelled against her by the anti-graft agency.
The commission further revealed that the money laundering charges for which Alison-Madueke is answerable to the EFCC cover jurisdictions in Dubai – the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Nigeria.
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Deziani on Monday, appeared before the Westminster Magistrates Court in London over an alleged £100,000 bribe.
The district judge, Michael Snow, granted Alison-Madueke a £70,000 bail and further imposed other terms on the former minister including an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, an electronic tag to be worn by her at all times and a £70,000 surety to be paid before she could leave the court building.
The former minister is being accused by UK’s National Crime Agency of accepting bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, eho welcomed Alliso n-Madueke’s arraignment in the UK, said the agency had obtained an arrest warrant and initiated extradition proceedings in order to bring the suspect back to Nigeria.
Oyewale said, “The EFCC welcomes, with keen interest, the arraignment of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, at the Westminister’s Court in London, United Kingdom, following alleged bribery allegations.
“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, the United Kingdom, the 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 on her trial. She will soon have her day in our courts.”
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