The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has obtained warrant of arrest against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alisn-Madueke.
This came amid Diezani’s appearance on Monday before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom over an alleged £100,000 bribe.
The district judge, Michael Snow, granted the embattled former minister a £70,000 bail and imposed other terms, including an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, an electronic tag to be worn by her at all times and a £70,000 surety to be paid before she could leave the court building.
On the homefront, the EFCC had accused the fugitive of stealing $2.5bn from the Nigerian government while she was a minister with the anti-graft agency’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale intimating the public about the arrest warrant in a statement he released.
Oyewale wrote: “The EFCC welcomes, with keen interest, the arraignment of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, at the Westminister’s Court in London, United Kingdom, following alleged bribery allegations.
“Although the charges preferred against her at the London court, are diametrically different from the 13 counts, bordering on money laundering that 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, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Nigeria.
“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.”
