Diezani Madueke, the former petroleum minister who sought refuge in the United Kingdom due to fears of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is appealing to the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government for leniency. The ex-minister, reportedly in the second stage of cancer, implores Tinubu to permit her return to Nigeria, expressing her readiness to confess to financial misconduct during her tenure.
Speaking to the press in London after a medical visit, Diezani, accused of embezzling billions of dollars from Nigeria, revealed her battle with cancer and stated her desire to disclose details of the funds she allegedly misappropriated while in office. She claims to have embraced Christianity and seeks forgiveness from President Tinubu and Nigerians.
Diezani mentions her association with Dauda Lawal Dare, the current governor of Zamfara State, to whom she entrusted over $9 billion for safekeeping while he served as the Executive Director of First Bank Nigeria PLC. She expresses disappointment in Lawal for allegedly not maintaining contact and collaborating with the UK police to surveil her.
It was previously reported that a UK court is trying Diezani over bribery allegations, with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) suspecting her of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding multi-million pound oil and gas contracts. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has submitted a warrant of arrest and extradition request to the Crown Prosecution Services for Diezani’s urgent extradition to Nigeria.
The EFCC had also revealed the commencement of Diezani’s extradition from the UK back to Nigeria over 13-count charges of money laundering.
