The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives, who raided the Abuja home of Allison-Madueke, just at about the time of her arrest in the UK, on Friday, reportedly recovered cash running into millions of Naira.
The trial is expected to be conducted in London and is likely to draw thousands of Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom (UK) but no date was specified yet.
An official of the NCA gave indication of the trial in a telephone chat but pointed out that the identities of all the suspects would only be unveiled at the point of charging them to court.
The official explained that the law establishing the NCA does not allow it to name those being investigated before charging them to court.
The official said: “Indeed we cannot name the five persons who were arrested and granted police conditional bail until we are ready to charge them to court.
“The law does not permit us to do so and we will release appropriate information to the media as the case progresses”.
But it was learnt from sources close to the British government that the NCA might have concluded arrangements to arraign Diezani and other suspects believed to be mostly Nigerian oil business men, suspected to have aided and abetted money laundering while the former minister was in office.
One of the sources said the British Government started investigating Diezani as early as 2013 following sustained allegations of financial wrongdoings at home and abroad, leveled against her and some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
In the meantime, a team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives, which raided the Abuja home of the former minister in Asokoro, Abuja, was said to have recovered cash running into millions of Naira from the place.
The security agents, who stormed the home, on Frederick Chiluba Street, Asokoro, in six vehicles, reportedly gained access to the expansive mansion with the aid of some former security aides of the embattled former minister.
The team allegedly gained access to the well fortified house using one of the windows.
Reports said Diezani had not been sighted near the palatial home since leaving office in May but had been staying in the United Kingdom, where she reportedly sought medical attention over an undisclosed ailment.
In updated information on its website, yesterday, the NCA disclosed that investigation of the suspects was initiated in 2013 by the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, which transferred the matter to it early this year.
The agency said that the suspects were merely granted what it called “conditional police bail” pending further investigation to be conducted in the UK and overseas.
It was learnt that the EFCC, which has a working pact with UK anti-corruption agencies, swopped on Diezani’s home and recovered vital documents, which it hopes to use to prosecute her when the trial begins in London.
According to the NCA’s website, the International Corruption Unit (ICU) investigates bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK and money laundering by suspected corrupt foreign officials and their associates.
The ICU also traces and recovers the proceeds of international corruption, support foreign law enforcement agencies with international anti-corruption investigations; engages with government and business to reduce the UK’s exposure to the proceeds of corruption.
It works to support increased compliance with the Bribery Act 2010 and draws on the specialist support available to it within the NCA, while also working closely with other UK law enforcement agencies and overseas partners.
Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank would be a vital witness in this trial. We hear that bank was used for most of the illicit money transfers. In my view, he too should be arrested.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff!
ReplyDeleteWhat a man can do, a woman can even do better. Can you imagine?
ReplyDeleteUna don start una shady business again , How many millions ? Tell d whole world . EFCC loot recovery during Goodluck's regime was short with N1 trillion . pls b specific
ReplyDeleteNa true talk my brother how can a thief steal from a thief. We want to know how much was recovered and where the money is.
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ReplyDeleteHahaha! Throw Back Photos Of Dangote
#1.2m.
ReplyDelete#1.2m was discovered.
ReplyDeleteRecovering millions of Naira from a long term minister of petroleum? What is recovery there? What right has the commission to break into a woman,a house and take her money and you call it recovery. She doesn't have right to keep money in the house or she is too small to have millions? A million Naira is nothing these days. This is the same type of idiocy that was carried out in akwa Ibom govt. house and fictitious bombs and stacks of dollars were wrongly quoted as discovered. Shameless and clueless people
ReplyDeleteExactly, the amount need be stated for record purpose and accountability. If not, there will still be some thieves stilling from government impounded and recovered money and properties. If such happens, such persons need be highly punished more than original offer, in Saudi or some Asian countries, such persons are immediately executed. We need stronger punishment in Nigeria for such offenders.
ReplyDeleteNow why show us private jet near her..nigerianeye u people have joined politicians to do dirty reporting
ReplyDeleteBefore na thousands you wan make she get..
ReplyDeleteFoolish bastards
To buy only one 2007 corolla that one never enter. Millions now a woman of that pedigree you find 2.3million is making news...Nigerians! Nigerians! Pls be realistic...if you are poor that those not mean people are not leaving very good life, politics or no politics
ReplyDeleteThe initial report stated that 1.2m was seen in her house. But that is no longer contained in this edited report. To me, 1.2b or trn would have made a better news than that. That is one aspect. On the other hand, for EFCC to have burgled her house is wrong. What they should have done was to condone off the house and ensure no one takes anything out of the house. Then bring back the woman. If she refuses granting access to her house, it would be a different thing. She too can claim her personal property was looted. No one can tell what our EFCC can do to better their own lives.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with having a few million Naira at home. Hundreds of millions could be an issue.
ReplyDeleteWhat is she doing with millions of Naira at home? If millions are kept at home for more than a month,not to talk of since May,2015,u know what it means to accountants and economist?This is Bad for our economy.Surplus money should be channelled to the deficit units of the economy for development.At her level,she is not supposed to have more than N500,000 at home for unforseen expenses.
ReplyDeleteHer house shd never b burgled into. I call ds burgling. This is another breaking of d law.
ReplyDeleteSo this frog eyes woman is a bloody rogue. Let her served 30 to 50 yrs in Jail. Hahahaha oleeeeeee jatijati. Barawo Bansa
ReplyDeleteLet her serve not "let her served" if you want to be rude, then do it in correct sentence. Dnt see anything wrong in finding 1.2m in her house.
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