It is not the best of times for embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, as she was slammed with a seven hours daily curfew, put on a £70,000 bail by a London court, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has a warrant for her arrest and has begun extradition processes against her.
EFCC welcomed her appearance before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom over an alleged £100,000 bribe.
A statement by EFCC announced that
although the charges preferred against her at the London court are “diametrically different from the 13-count charges bordering on money laundering the EFCC has raised against her, it is instructive to note that criminality is criminality, irrespective of jurisdictional differences.
Mr. Dele Oyewale, the acting spokesman of EFCC added, “No crime can go unpunished. The money laundering charges for which Madueke is answerable to the EFCC, cover jurisdictions in Dubai, United Kingdom, United States of America and Nigeria.”
The district judge, Michael Snow, ordered that 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.
Her next court appearance will be on October 30 at Southwark Crown Court, which deals with serious criminal cases.
Recall that in August, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) alleged that Madueke benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.
“Her charges also detail financial rewards, including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods,” NCA said on its website.
Last March the NCA also provided evidence to the US Department of Justice that enabled them to recover assets totalling $53.1m linked to Diezan’s alleged corruption.