EFCC begins process to extradite Alison-Madueke back to Nigeria, obtains arrest warrant

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared its pursuit of an arrest warrant and the commencement of extradition proceedings against the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, for her trial within Nigeria.

This announcement was made by the EFCC through its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement released on Monday, following Alison-Madueke’s ongoing trial in the United Kingdom (UK).

Oyewale stated, “In our efforts to bring the former Minister to justice within Nigeria, we have secured an arrest warrant and initiated extradition procedures. Our pursuit of her trial is unwavering, and she will soon face our judicial system.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC has said it is closely monitored the proceedings in London’s Westminster Court, where Alison-Madueke faces allegations of bribery.

“Although the charges leveled against her in the London court differ from the 13 counts of money laundering brought against her by the EFCC, it is crucial to emphasize that criminal conduct knows no borders,” the EFCC emphasized. “No crime shall go unpunished, and the money laundering charges she faces in Nigeria span across Dubai, the UK, the United States of America, and Nigeria.”

In a separate development, a UK court granted bail to the former Nigerian Minister for Petroleum Resources in the amount of £70,000. Alison-Madueke, currently residing in St John’s Wood, London, appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court after being charged with bribery offenses totaling £100,000, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

District Judge Michael Snow granted bail to the 63-year-old Alison-Madueke but imposed additional conditions, citing concerns about her being a flight risk.

Alison-Madueke, who also held the position of president at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), played a significant role in the Nigerian government from 2010 to 2015.

The NCA suspects that she accepted bribes during her tenure as Minister for Petroleum Resources in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.

As part of the ongoing investigation, assets linked to the alleged offenses, worth millions of pounds, have already been frozen.

Alison-Madueke was initially arrested in London in 2015 shortly after stepping down as minister and was subsequently charged in August with six bribery offenses.