The crimes are being investigated by the National Crimes Agency.
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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.
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.
There had been several unconfirmed reports of large scale frauds in the oil industry which was oversaw by Alison-Madueke, 54, during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The source told THISDAY: “They (EFCC) initiated the arrest after completing investigations into crimes allegedly perpetrated in the petroleum ministry during the tenure of Alison-Madueke”.
When asked to confirm if the arrest and invasion by the EFCC were based on the request of the Nigerian Government, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said: “No comment for now”.
The arrest was carried out by the worldwide Corruption Unit of the UK NCA. PREMIUM TIMES learnt she was arrested for offences related to bribery and corruption being investigated by the UK National Crime Agency.
Diezani Alison-Madueke was first appointed into Nigeria’s federal cabinet in 2007.
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Reuters was unable to reach Alison-Madueke’s personal assistant or a lawyer representing her. She has previously denied to Reuters any wrongdoing when questioned about missing public funds and graft allegations. The website reported that two top British officials in London, who pleaded anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the issue, confirmed the arrests.
