Nigeria’s former oil minister has been arrested in London, the BBC said on Friday quoting unnamed family members, after Britain’s National Crime Agency said it had detained five people over alleged global corruption.
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Her arrest was confirmed by the Crime’s Agency Spokesman in Abuja, Mr. Joe Abuku, who also affirmed that four other persons were arrested alongside with Allison-Madueke.
Many agencies across several countries were said to be involved in the investigation. “The National Crime Agency does not confirm identity at arrest nor provide information that could be used to corroborate the identity of an arrested individual”, he reportedly said.
The Nigerian Government has declined to comment on the arrest of the former Petroleum Minister. Daily Trust also learnt that her house in Abuja was raided yesterday by security operatives.
The former minister is in the the books for offences related to bribery, corruption and money laundering.
A forensic audit was conducted by the Pricewaterhouse Coopers on behalf of the Federal Government on the operations of the NNPC after the allegation showed that the management of the corporation engaged in many questionable deals.
Alison-Madueke who has been away in London receiving treatment for breast cancer since her tenure as petroleum minister ended on May 29 was said to have been released on bail after hours of interrogation by NCA operatives. Another source said the anti-graft agency would issue an official statement on the arrests “as soon as it is ready to do so”.
The senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, however, told our correspondent that although he was not aware of any request by the presidency for Deziani’s arrest, the action taken by the British Crime Agency showed that the world was listening to President Buhari.
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On Sunday, Buhari stated the prosecution of these suspected of misappropriating the NNPC’s income underneath previous administrations would start quickly.
