Alleged bribery: UK tells Buhari of Diezani’s arrest

President Muhammadu Buhari  has been told of former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke’s arrest in Britain.

The Presidency also confirmed last night that the Department of State Service (DSS) was collaborating with the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Britain to get to the root of the bribery and money laundering allegations against the former Minister and four others, who are yet to be named.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in an exclusive chat with our correspondent last night, said:  “Nigeria is aware of the arrest of the ex- Minister; the government has been informed.

“The arms of government  dealing with investigation, particularly the Department of State Service (DSS), are actively collaborating with the relevant agencies in the UK.”

Asked to expatiate on the matter, Shehu said: “Nobody wants to say anything as a Mark of respect for the agencies carrying out the investigation. We also want to show that we are serious about this anti-corruption war.”

When pressed to explain if Nigeria will ask for the ex-minister’s extradition, Shehu said: “I won’t give details other than telling you that the DSS is collaborating with the relevant agencies on this case.

“We want to do things differently from the past.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) plans to send a team to London to be part of the former minister’s trial.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, who is on bail, is expected to be charged to court in London for alleged money laundering and other related offences by  the NCA.

Most cabinet colleagues of the ex-minister have been indifferent to her travails because they “saw it coming”.

Although some of the former ministers met with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja at the weekend to review the situation, they had “little concern” for her.

Jonathan was said to be trying to get in touch with the ex-minister  to “get first hand information” on her arrest.

The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of NCA on Friday arrested Alison-Madueke and four others.

The EFCC collaborated with the NCA in investigating Mrs Alison-Madueke in the last two years.

It was gathered that the EFCC made vital documents, including details of bank transactions of some of her business associates, available to the NCA.

The search on her residence on Friday was said to be the part of the concluding  stage of the initial investigation.

A top source in EFCC said: “The arrest and the impending arraignment of Mrs Alison-Madueke have been a joint collaboration between the EFCC and the NCA.

“There is no way we will not be part of the trial. Definitely, we are sending a team to the UK but I cannot give you the details.

“If you recall, some of our investigators were in the UK during the trial of ex-Governor James Ibori. This practice will not be an exception in the trial of the ex-minister.

“We have documents to give to NCA; we have a lot to clarify in confidence. We are also ready to testify.”

Overwhelmed by the arrest of the former oil minister, some former ministers visited President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday and Saturday for a “review of the situation and other allegations against the immediate past administration.”

But the details of what transpired were unknown as at press time.

Two former  ministers however said they were indifferent to Alison-Madueke’s plight.

One of them said: “I think many of us won’t be surprised because even at FEC we saw it coming.

“Some of our colleagues, virtually hero-worshipped her even though we were supposed to be equal in the cabinet.”

As at last night, the NCA was not forthcoming on its website whether Alison-Madueke and four others will be arraigned in court today.

The agency only said the suspects were released on bail “pending further investigation”.

It said: “On Friday 2nd October, the National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit arrested five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences.

“All five people arrested were released on conditional police bail later that evening, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas.”

The investigation began in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, and transferred to the NCA earlier this year.”

The ICU was established to “ trace and recover the proceeds of international corruption”.

NCA said: “The International Corruption Unit (ICU) investigates: Bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK; and Money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates.

“The ICU will also:

• Trace and recover the proceeds of international corruption;
• Support foreign law enforcement agencies with international anti-corruption investigations;
• Engage with government and business to reduce the UK’s exposure to the proceeds of corruption; and
• Work with business to support increased compliance with the Bribery Act 2010
• The ICU draws on the specialist support available to it within the NCA, and works closely with other UK law enforcement agencies and overseas partners.

The Nation