The EFCC has gathered enough evidence against Diezani, including a court order for the former minister’s $2.5 million homes and cars
A team from the Nigerian anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is scheduled to travel to London to initiate the process of submitting legal documents as a participant in the corruption allegation case involving the country’s former minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
“This country may not be able to retrieve questionable assets from Diezani if the EFCC does not file an application as an interested party.
“We have received an advisory on this important bend to Diezani’s trial and we will be part of the case in the UK.
“A team will leave for London any moment from now to explore legal opportunities and file necessary papers as an interested party.
“The overall aim is for Nigeria to benefit from Diezani’s trial, especially the recovery of all assets linked to funds looted in this country.
“The EFCC has sufficient evidence against Diezani, including a court order on the former minister’s $2.5million homes and cars.
“In another case, a former Chairman of EFCC confirmed that the commission recovered $153million and secured the final forfeiture of over 80 properties in Nigeria valued at about $80million.
“The allegations against Diezani by the EFCC border on alleged stealing of about $2.5 billion from Nigeria’s coffers as a minister.
“It is necessary for this nation to rise to the occasion because, in March 2023, the NCA also provided evidence to the US Department of Justice that enabled them to recover assets totalling $53.1 million linked to Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.
“Like the P&ID case, the EFCC has sufficient evidence to pull through a case against Diezani. We want all stolen, diverted and questionable assets back in the custody of Nigeria for the good use of our citizens.”
“I think the EFCC is collaborating with the NCA in the UK on this.
“It is also unclear if the UK court will ask Diezani to return to Nigeria to serve prison terms if convicted. This is why we also need to be an interested party in the case in the UK,” a source said.
The Nation Newspaper
