The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it welcomed, with keen interest, the arraignment of a former Minister of petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke at the Westminister’s Court in London, United Kingdom, following alleged bribery allegations.
The agency said although the charges preferred against Diezani at the London court, are diametrically different from the 13-count charges bordering on money laundering the EFCC had raised against her, but added that “criminality is criminality,” irrespective of jurisdictional differences.
The Daily Crucible reports that Diezani Alison-Madueke, was charged in court in London today, Monday, October 2, 2023 for receiving bribes in the form of cash, luxury goods, flights on private jets and the use of high-end properties in Britain in return for awarding oil contracts.
She served as Nigeria’s minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015, during the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan. She has been in London for the last eight years.
Earlier, she has faced several court cases in which lots of her properties at home had been forfeited to the federal government including her wears and rings which were allegedly got from ill-wealth.
According to Reuters, Diezani appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday. She spoke only to give her name, date of birth and address. She was not asked to formally enter a plea, although her lawyer Mark Bowen told the court she would be pleading not guilty.
According to the report, Alison-Madueke is now on the list of high-profile Nigerian politicians to face prosecution in Britain in recent years, following James Ibori, a former state governor who was convicted of fraud and money laundering in 2012 and received a 13-year jail sentence.
But reacting to the arraignment through Dele Oyewale, the agency’s Acting Head, Media & Publicity, EFCC hails it and said, “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 on her trial. She will soon have her day in our courts.”
