The British Government has
pointed out that for the embattled former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani
Allison-Madueke, to be extradited to face corruption charges in Nigeria, the
Federal Government most request for it.
The former Petroleum Minister is
currently in London, awaiting formal corruption charges and possibly, trial, in
the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian Government had last
month said it had no plans to seek Alison-Madueke’s repatriation since she was
already being investigated in the United Kingdom.
The UK Government, while
responding to a letter seeking extradition of the ex-minister by the Coalition
of Civil Society Organisations comprising ‘Our Mumu Don Do,’ led by musician
Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) and Concerned Nigerians, led by Deji Adeyanju, said
their request should follow “diplomatic channel.”
In a letter, signed by a member
of the Whitehall Nigeria Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Oyebowale
Oworu, the UK explained that it is possible to extradite any of its citizens if
Nigeria make such demand.
It said that “Nigeria is a
designated extradition partner of the United Kingdom under the London Scheme
for Extradition with the Commonwealth.”
In the November 10, 2017 letter
addressed to the London Coordinator of the coalition, Bob Olukoya, the
correspondence was against the backdrop of a protest march by the group at 10,
Downing Street, London, last month, where it handed a letter to British
officials, for onward transmission to the Prime Minister, Theresa May,
requesting Madueke’s extradition.
“Your letter has been sent to the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office as the government department responsible for
the UK’s relations with Nigeria and I am replying as a member of the Cross
Whitehall Nigeria Unit at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
“You asked for the repatriation
of Mrs. Madueke, to stand trial in Nigeria.
“If a country wishes to seek the
return of an individual from the United Kingdom to stand trial, the correct
course is for that country to make an extradition request, through the
diplomatic channel.
“If a country wishes to seek the
return of assets associated with legal proceedings in the UK, the correct
course is for that country to make a request through official, mutual
assistance channels. Any such requests are considered in accordance with the
United Kingdom law.
“As a matter of long standing
policy and practice, the United Kingdom will neither confirm nor deny that an
extradition request has been received until such time as a person is arrested
in relation to a request.”
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