In a significant development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained an arrest warrant for the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. The Acting spokesman of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this development on Monday, signaling a proactive move by the anti-graft agency in response to the alleged bribery allegations against Alison-Madueke.
Simultaneously, the EFCC has initiated extradition proceedings to compel the former minister’s return to Nigeria. This follows her arraignment at the Westminster Magistrates Court in London, where she faces charges distinct from the 13-count charge of money laundering previously leveled against her by the EFCC.
Dele Oyewale emphasized that criminality knows no jurisdictional boundaries, and the charges against Alison-Madueke span jurisdictions in Dubai, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Nigeria. The EFCC aims to bring her to trial in Nigeria, and with the obtained arrest warrant and the initiation of extradition proceedings, the commission asserts its commitment to ensuring that no crime goes unpunished.
In the London court appearance at the Westminster Magistrates Court, District Judge Michael Snow granted Alison-Madueke bail of £70,000, imposing additional terms, including an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, mandatory use of an electronic tag, and a £70,000 surety payment before leaving the court building. While she did not formally enter a plea, her attorney, Mark Bowen, indicated that she would plead not guilty. The next court appearance is scheduled at Southwark Crown Court on October 30, marking a crucial date in this legal saga.
