$21m of ex-Nigerian oil minister seized, protesters demand her extradition

The court ordered on Monday that the money in her local bank accounts be confiscated as investigations of corruption are ongoing.

The minister, who is facing a series of cross-border corruption allegations, is suspected to be in the United Kingdom and has not responded to court orders.

A group of protesters gathered at the offices of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja demanding the extradition of the former minister to face trial.

The convener of the Concerned Nigeria group, Adeyanju Deji told the media that they are demanding her extradition because if she is convicted in the UK, “the jurisdiction may be an impediment to our [Nigeria’s] trial”.

He called for all those accused of corruption to be investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC.

On August 8, a $37.5 million apartment block owned by Diezani Alison-Madueke was also permanently seized by the federal high court in the commercial capital Lagos.

Permanent seizure of a further $2.74 million and 84.54 million naira ($269,000) that were said to be part of the rent collected on the property was also ordered.

The U.S. Justice Department in July filed a civil complaint aimed at recovering about $144 million in assets allegedly obtained through bribes to Alison-Madueke.

In October 2015, she was briefly arrested in London for questioning about allegations related to missing public funds but no charges were brought against her.

She was also named in a money laundering case in Italy.

Diezani Alison-Madueke served as the Minister of Petroleum Resources in the Goodluck Jonathan administration between 2011 and 2015.

She has denied all the allegations.

SOURCE:AFRICANNEWS