The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday stormed the residence of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and arrested her for connection with ongoing investigation of alleged corrupt practices.
NigerianEye gathered that the EFCC and NCA had been collaborating on investigation of some scandals in the nation’s oil sector during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to investigation, EFCC operatives were drafted to the posh residence of the ex-Minister at about 5pm on Friday.
The Spokesman for the UK High Commission in Abuja, Joe Abuku, confirmed to that five persons were arrested by the agency.
He, however, did not disclose their identities.
It was gathered that the Seizure Organised Crime Agency within the National Crimes Agency of the UK arrested Deziani and are probing the allegations against her.
It was further learnt that Deziani was picked up by operatives of the SOCA at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which has been discretely probing her.
NigerianEye gathered that the SOCA has a working agreement with the EFCC in the area of investigation of allegations of financial crimes and proceeds of such crimes.
A source said, “It is true that the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani has been arrested by the UK’s National Crimes Agency, not the Metropolitan Police.
“There is an agency within the National Crimes Agency called the Seizures Organised Crimes Agency. She was actually arrested by operatives of SOCA because the agency has a working agreement with the EFCC. We have been cooperating with SOCA on a number issues.
“I can tell you that Deziani is being quizzed over allegations of bribery and fraud by the UK police.”
Investigations further revealed that the EFCC dispatched a team of crack investigators to the residence of Allison-Maduekwe’s resident at Frederick Chiluba Avenue, Asokoro, moments after the commission was alerted that the investigation had commenced from the UK’s end.
A family relation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest of Allison-Maduekwe to our correspondent on Friday.
NE could not get the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, to comment on the issue as the repeated calls to his mobile telephone line indicated that it was either switched off or in an area outside network coverage.
The former petroleum resources minister’s arrest came two days after President Muhammadu Buhari announced himself as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum.
He had vowed to recover all looted funds worth several millions of dollars that were allegedly stolen in the petroleum ministry under the watch of Alison-Madueke, who had become an object of attacks from Nigerians over scandals that rocked the ministry during the former administration.
For instance, in June 2008, Alison-Madueke was subjected to a Senate probe after it emerged that as Transport Minister, she had paid N30.9bn ($263m) to contractors between December 26 and 31, 2007. She is said to be worth over N1bn.
However, she has never been officially charged or tried for these allegations and has strongly denied any wrongdoing. She was alleged to have spent billions of dollars inappropriately on private jets and responsible for some $20bn, reportedly missing.
She is also widely accused of reckless spending of government funds. When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said, “I have no comment or information on it. It is a security matter.”
Meanwhile, EFCC operatives also stormed the home of Jide Omokore, one of her business allies while she was the oil minister.
Omokore owns SPOG and Atlantic Energy and is said to be involved in multi-billion dollar oil deals, including kerosene scam that denied Nigeria’s treasury by over $6bn.
It was reported that Omokore’s 9 Turnbull Street home in Ikoyi, Lagos and his Glover Street, Ikoyi office were raided by the EFCC operatives.
It was, however, learnt that the former minister was granted bail hours after she was detained by the ICU.
A report by Channels TV said that the London Police confirmed that she had been charged to court for money laundering and she’s expected to appear at the Charing Cross Police Station for questioning on Monday.
Jonathan the clock is ticking, you will also be arrested soon.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Buhari, all corrupt people must pay
The frudulents activities of this woman is really casting aspersions to the credibility of the popular coordinating Minister Okonjo Iweala Prof and the sensibilities of GEJ according to Governor Adam OsHOBAba " you said you are cooking for the Nation and Two wholesome Legs of the Elephant is missing and you are not aware Hmmm something is really amiss " I call it GEJ wonder or stealling is not corruption syndrome
ReplyDeleteGood stuff. Some pleasant news for a change. Every penny has to be accounted for.
ReplyDeleteThis is the beginning of the end of an era.
ReplyDeleteMy broda, under our Oga nose yet he says stealing is not corruption. A phd holder. I want to think he bought that phd. he must be probed of that certificate.
He can not tell me that he did not hear the cry of the Niger Deltans people, especially the resultant militancy in the region. He came in without solving any thing about the niger delatans. Instead he was collaborating in this mess. Madam was busy insulting the intelligence of the entire Nigerians.
The Niger Deltans should relax because that needed development must come thro this government. Whether devil likes it or not PMB must develop the region. But mean while we are yet to see revelations. More arrest will surely come. Then you will see that an individual is richer than Rivers state.
Just send this rogue to jail. Let her served 50yrs in prison. Bloody thief and looter. Gej Just be ready ooooioio.
ReplyDeleteDizzy baby, you can only run, you can not hide. How come all of them are forming one sickness or another since Dumbo lost election. This is the same woman that got several injunction not to be probed. You will all pay for your sins to Nigerians..
ReplyDeleteLet us wait and see the course of justice. She is innocent until prove guilty by the court. We need not to pass judgement on her over the media. But I believe there must be something wrong hidden somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThe end shall justify the mean,
ReplyDeleteCarry go knw
No one will go jail oooh ...THIS CASE WILL GO ON TILL ALL THE JUDGES WILL ABANDON IT...
ReplyDeletecan you fight someone that owns $20B...
$20B can buy justice any where in the world....she got her bail yesterday too......so why the hullabaloo
ReplyDeleteWith a mind like this we can't get anything done in this nation. She made bail because it's lawful not because she bribed anybody. The hullabaloo according to you, is that we want to get as much as possible from people like her, who have looted our nation, NIGERIA. Let's be objective & optimistic that we can all rid Nigeria of corruption & its instigators
Delete.
We need to b serious with d kind of encouraging comments to corrupt practice rather shall contribute positively to National growth and development. Believe in one Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteWe need to b serious with d kind of encouraging comments to corrupt practice rather shall contribute positively to National growth and development. Believe in one Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteDezzy baby, untoucheable minister of petroleum, u can't eat ur cake and hv it. U people think nigeria is ufor u forever. U made family hungried bcoz of fuel quiue in filling stations, u made peolpe die bcoz fuel queue. U must face d consequences of ur actions and d coordinating minister and d rest of u.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha FROG eyes woman. So you be thief. Water don pass gari oooooo. Fake Phd holder Otueke dummy Jonathan better be ready, you can never ever get out of this.
ReplyDeleteIt's time Nigerians begin to ask PDP exactly what they truly know about the spate of suicide bombings in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteFirst, PDP tried pinning reason for Boko Haram and Suicide Bombings on PMB when they saw him as the only treat to their rule in the upcoming last elections.
Then they tried using Boko Harm and Suicide Bombings as a tool of Religious Sentiment against PMB as a Muslim.
PDP must come clean about who is actually sponsoring all these hideous crimes against Nigeria.
Now that one of their key sources of financial misappropriations and financial reckless is under arrest and may have already started singing like Canary, we have a sudden hike in Bombings to force Nigerians to be distracted and diverted.
I leave the rest to all sincere and patriotic Nigerians to judge.
May the Lord continue to frustrate and reduce to oblivion all the known and secret enemies of Nigeria in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen.
May the Lord erase all the known and secret enemies of Nigeria like human fart in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen.
Oga Jona, your time is not far of...
ReplyDelete