As part of the ongoing move to arraign a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, some investigators from the United Kingdom have visited Nigeria to gather evidence.
The ex-minister is under investigation over the missing $20billion oil cash, phoney crude oil lifting contracts to fake big boys, $115million poll bribery money, the $1.092b Malabu oil deal and the N5.2billion ($25m) oil cash paid by an Indian oil firm for an oil block.
The UK team inspected the former minister’s multi-billion naira mansion, her £600,000 exotic wrist watch and gold and diamond jewelry which have been confiscated.
In fact, there were indications last night that
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also frozen Alison-Madueke’s bank accounts.
The commission may attach some assets of the ex-minister under the Interim Forfeiture Order in Sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act, The Nation learnt.
The UK investigators came into the country as part of the build-up to the trial of Diezani in London. She and four others were arrested in London on October 2, 2015 by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
A source, who confirmed the visit said it is the “continuation of the London end of the investigation of the ex-minister.”
Besides restricting her movement to the UK, a London (Westminster Magistrate’s Court) had approved the seizure of $41,000 (£27,000) cash from Mrs Alison-Madueke.
An EFCC source confirmed that the former minister’s accounts in some major banks had been frozen. “It is too early to disclose the amounts involved in order not to prejudice investigation. We are discovering more on daily basis as some complicit banks are now cooperating,” he said.
EFCC is working with agencies in other country to track all hidden money. The figures are shocking.
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