Anti graft agency , the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has commenced extradition proceedings against Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources.
In August, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said they suspected Alison-Madueke had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts. The former Minister was arrainhed yesterady before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom .Michael Snow, the district judge, granted her bail in the sum of £70,000 but imposed other conditions after considering her “a flight risk”.
In its reaction to the judgement, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said its a welvome development
” The EFCC with keen interest warches the arraignment of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke at the Westminister’s Court in London, United Kingdom, followqing 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, 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.”
EFCC
