Presidency Declines Comment on Alison-Madueke’s Arrest in London

05 Oct 2015

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

Crusoe Osagie with agency report

The presidency on Sunday refused to comment on the recent reports on the arrest of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in London, over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
Speaking with THISDAY last night, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said: “ We have no comment on the issue. It is  purely a security issue and all enquiries should be directed at the security agencies in charge of the investigation.” 

However, a report published by an online new medium, Premium Times, quoted the presidency as saying that the government was aware of the arrest and that all the government investigative agencies are working very closely with the British law enforcement.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, was quoted by the online medium to have said: “Nigerian authorities are saying for the first time that matters are being handled with seriousness and deep commitment. Nobody wants to give the impression that this government is frivolous and unserious.

“For this reason, government is only confirming active collaboration. Beyond this, we are not saying more. In due course, Nigerians will be briefed on updates as appropriate.”

Asked about the identities of the other four people arrested with the former minister, Mr. Shehu declined comments, saying, “as I said no one is willing to provide further details at this point.”

The presidential confirmation came two days after Mrs. Alison-Madueke was arrested and granted bail by the UK National Crime Agency over allegations of corruption and money laundering.

The former minister was arrested alongside four others.

The identities of the four other people arrested along with Mrs. Alison-Madueke, remained unknown.

The embattled former minister, who was one of the most influential officials of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, and her four colleagues were granted “conditional bail” late that same day.

As part of the bail conditions, Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s travel documents and those of others were reportedly seized, effectively barring them from travelling outside the UK, pending the conclusion of investigation and their arraignment in court.

It is not however clear when the Minister and her accomplices would be arraigned in court.

The UK NCA had explained on Saturday that investigation into allegations of corruption against the former minister of Petroleum Resources and the four other people arrested on Friday had been on since 2013.

The agency said in an update on its website that investigation of Mrs. Alison-Madueke was originally handled under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit (PCU) domiciled at the London Metropolitan Police Service in 2013 until earlier this year when the case was transferred to it.

The NCA said following the creation of the International Corruption Unit (ICU) in line with the UK Anti-Corruption Plan, the PCU at the Metropolitan Police and the Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit of the City of London Police were scrapped.

The ICU had since become the UK’s prime agency for the investigation of bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK, and money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates.