Tag:

Diezani

EFCC Secures Arrest Warrant for Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke

by Ikem Emmanuel October 2, 2023

written by Ikem Emmanuel 1 minutes read

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained an arrest warrant for the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. This news was confirmed by the acting spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale.

Furthermore, the EFCC has initiated extradition proceedings to bring Diezani Alison-Madueke back to Nigeria. This comes after her recent arraignment at Westminster’s Court in London, United Kingdom, on alleged bribery charges. Although the charges in the London court differ from the 13-count money laundering charges she faces in Nigeria, the EFCC is determined to hold her accountable for her actions.

Diezani Madueke Faces Bribery Charges in London Court

The EFCC emphasizes that criminality knows no jurisdictional boundaries, and no crime should go unpunished. The money laundering charges against Alison-Madueke extend across multiple jurisdictions, including Dubai, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Nigeria.

To ensure her trial in Nigeria, the EFCC has secured an arrest warrant and initiated extradition proceedings. This move underscores the commission’s commitment to bringing the former minister to justice on Nigerian soil. Diezani Alison-Madueke will soon face legal proceedings in Nigerian courts.

October 2, 2023

EFCC Trace Fresh $72.87m To Diezani, Arrests First Bank MD, Okonkwo

UK Declined Diezani’s Extradition Request – AIG

by Echezona obinna February 3, 2023

written by Echezona obinna 2 minutes read

Garba Umar, an assistant inspector general of police and the head of INTERPOL Nigeria’s national central bureau, explained on Thursday why the federal government had not succeeded in getting Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former minister of petroleum resources, extradited in order to face corruption charges and a trial.
Umar claimed that the British Government turned down the request to extradite Alison-Madueke while testifying before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Loss of Over $2.4bn in Revenue from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude in 2015 Including Crude Oil Exports from 2014 Till Date.

The AIG, while being grilled by members of the committee, noted that the Nigerian government followed due process in seeking mutual legal assistance from the United Kingdom but the demand was ignored as the ex-minister also went to court in the UK to frustrate the process.

Responding to questions from the lawmakers, Umar explained why the move was successful in the cases of a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina; and a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Bello Adoke (SAN).
“In respect of assistance – seeking for assistance, if you remember, we repatriated many Nigerians who were alleged to have swindled the Nigerian Government. I went personally and brought Maina from (Republic of) Niger.

“I brought the former Attorney-General of the Federation from Dubai and many other Nigerians who absconded. We brought them back to face justice and those who are in Nigeria, hiding, we took them back to their various countries to face justice,” he said.

A member of the committee, Jude Ngaji, who is representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in Cross River State at the House, specifically asked why the Nigerian authorities had been unable to bring Alison-Madueke back to the country to face trial.
Responding to Ngaji’s question, Umar said, “The issue of Diezani, a warrant of arrest was issued. I am sorry to say the government of the UK turned down our request. We followed the MLA – you can check, that is Mutual Legal Assistance – to bring her back home. She went to court because, according to them, they have a system where they check our…let me not go there.”

February 3, 2023

EFCC Trace Fresh $72.87m To Diezani, Arrests First Bank MD, Okonkwo

by Victor Ndubuisi December 16, 2021

written by Victor Ndubuisi 2 minutes read

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Bello Malami Tambuwal wanted over an alleged N2.2 million fraud.

A former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Anaedoonline.ng reports that Okonkwo was arrested over an additional $72.87m found in the coffers of the bank.

EFCC Chairman Reveals How Much Recovered From Diezani

It was gathered that the discovery was part of the ongoing investigations of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Okonkwo, who is currently the Chairman of First Bank Holding, alongside others, had earlier been questioned over a sum of $153million and $115million by the EFCC.

While all the $153 million was recovered by the EFCC, the cases involving $115million, as it relates with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, bribery matter, are in various courts.

Okonkwo and Charles Onyedibe were currently being quizzed by the commission over the latest discovery.

This was made known by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Wednesday, titled, ‘Diezani: EFCC uncovers additional $72.87m in Fidelity Bank.’

EFCC BOSS: 80 Houses, $153 Million Recovered From Diezani

It said, “Okonkwo, who is currently the Chairman of First Bank Holding, alongside others, had earlier been grilled over a sum of $153m and $115m by the commission.

“Okonkwo and Charles Onyedibe are currently being detained by the EFCC over the whereabouts of the new $72.87m.”

December 16, 2021

UK Court Adjourns Diezani’s Bribery Trial Till November 2025

News

Diezani Alison-Madueke, Laments Over Increase In ‘Yahoo’ (Video)

by AnaedoOnline August 10, 2020

written by AnaedoOnline 2 minutes read

Former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has bemoaned the deterioration of values in society.

The former Minister, in a video posted online Sunday, was speaking at a virtual conference organised by an umbrella body of Ijaw cultural associations, the Ijaw Development Group (INDG).

“The ones that have swag, the Yahoo Yahoo boys as my son would say, these, in short, are the role models they are looking at,” she said. “These are the ones that reinforce negative societal norms and values.

Diezani Is The Trade and Investment Commissioner In Dominican Republic

“This is a travesty of an unfolding tragedy for us. Why have I spent time talking about fatherless homes and the impact it has on our children? The truth of the matter is that an irresponsible boy tends to become an irresponsible man and it is therefore a vicious cycle. If you plant coco-yam, you cannot harvest plantain.”

In July, a Federal High Court, ordered Mrs. Alison-Madueke to appear for an arraignment on money laundering charges filed against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to the court, the former Minister has been charged with 13 counts of money laundering involving $39.7m and N3.32bn said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Diezani Is A Dominican Republic Citizen, It Will Be Hard To Extradite Her

She is alleged to have escaped to the United Kingdom after leaving office in 2015.

The EFCC has since called for her extradition and sought to seize some of her assets within its jurisdiction.

See Video Below:

https://twitter.com/jacksonpbn/status/1292518235896774657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1292518235896774657%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.channelstv.com%2F2020%2F08%2F10%2Fformer-petroleum-minister-diezani-alison-madueke-laments-loss-of-values-in-society%2F

August 10, 2020

Appeal Court Seals Diezani Chances of Recovering $40m Jewellery From Buhari Govt

News

Diezani Is The Trade and Investment Commissioner In Dominican Republic

by AnaedoOnline June 7, 2020

written by AnaedoOnline 1 minutes read

Former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, has plotted and secured citizenship and political appointment in Dominican Republic in order to secure immunity from prosecution, new evidence reveals.

According to Vanguard, Dieziani carefully planned and obtained the citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominican Republic, which subsequently appointed her as a Trade and Investment Commissioner in that country.

Diezani’s offer and acceptance were completed a few days before she left office on June 1, 2015, barely two days before the expiration of her tenure on May 29, 2015.

Diezani Is A Dominican Republic Citizen, It Will Be Hard To Extradite Her

According to the document she had perfected arrangements with the Office of the Prime Minister, Commonwealth of Dominica and lobbied to be appointed as Trade and investment Commissioner with effect from June 1, 2015.

The lobby actually worked. In a letter dated May 29, 2015 and signed by Prime Minister Roosevelt Kerry, Diezani was offered not only the citizenship of Dominica, a Caribbean island but also an appointment as Trade and Investment Commissioner.

However, Former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke is reportedly evading extradition to Nigeria as she is now a citizen of Dominican Republic, thereby securing immunity from prosecution.

Diezani who is wanted by the EFCC in connection with an alleged N23.29billion poll bribery scam is wanted to account for N47.2 billion; $487.5million; N23,446,300,000 and $5milion (about N1.5billion) in various Nigerian banks.

June 7, 2020

News

Diezani: UK Investigators Storm Nigeria

by AnaedoOnline June 29, 2019

written by AnaedoOnline 2 minutes read

Diezani: UK Investigators Storm Nigeria

United Kingdom detectives working on the probe of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, have stormed Nigeria.

They already met with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),

The commission has so far traced N47.2 billion and $487.5 million to the ex-minister arrested since October 2, 2015, but been restricted to the UK with her probe costing fortunes.

The agency also claimed that Diezani has N23,446,300,000 and $5 million (about N1.5 billion) in various Nigerian banks.

The EFCC has also secured final forfeiture orders on the following assets of Diezani: about $37.5 million Banana Island property; Heritage Court Estate, Plot 2C, Omerelu Street, Diobu Port Harcourt; 135 Awolowo Road/ Plot 808 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi; and 7, Hurnburn Street and 5, Raymond Street, Yaba, Lagos.

A source was reported as saying: “The detectives from the UK have been in Nigeria for a week in line with the ongoing investigation of Diezani.

“It is a major case the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK has been collaborating with the EFCC to probe.

“A few weeks ago, EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, was also in London to compare notes with similar agencies on this case.

“You will recall that Magu in November 2018 made it clear that Nigeria was tired of waiting for the trial of Diezani by the UK.

“But after the initial issues between EFCC and UK agencies, there were talks which revealed that those at the London end were making painstaking investigations.

“After Magu’s visit to London, the investigation of Diezani assumed enhanced dimension because some grey areas were cleared.

“The coming of the detectives from London was meant to fill some gaps, get additional evidence and crosscheck a few findings on their part.

“We are hopeful that the latest bend of investigation was in preparation for the trial of the ex-minister.”

The source added that the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2019, signed into law about a week ago by President Muhammadu Buhari might help in confiscating Diezani’s assets at home and abroad.

Thenation

June 29, 2019