The UK government has brought former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to trial on bribery charges. It has been reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) expressed appreciation for this development. After the UK trial, the former minister will reportedly face money laundering charges in Nigeria, as per the EFCC.
Mrs Alison-Madueke appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court in the UK over an alleged £100,000 bribery offence on Monday.
Reacting to Mrs Alison-Madueke’s arraignment in the UK in a statement by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Monday, the antigraft agency said “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.”
The antigraft agency said though Mrs Alison-Madueke is being tried over bribery allegations in the UK, she will be tried separately over money laundering charges in Nigeria.
“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,” the EFCC said.
Mrs Alison-Madueke, 63, was petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015, under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.
The embattled former petroleum minister was allowed to go by Michael Snow, district judge, upon meeting her bail conditions which included the sum of £70,000 surety.
Mrs Alison-Madueke will remain under an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and will wear an electronic tag at all times, the court ruled.