The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it has obtained an arrest warrant and commenced extradition proceedings against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Alison-Madueke appeared before the Westminster Magistrates Court in London over an alleged £100,000 bribe.
The district judge, Michael Snow, granted the ex-minister a £70,000 bail and further imposed other terms on the former minister including an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, an electronic tag to be worn by her at all times and a £70,000 surety to be paid before she could leave the court building.
Acting EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Monday, hailed Alison-Madueke’s arraignment in the UK, adding that the commission had obtained an arrest warrant and initiated extradition proceedings.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, welcomes, with keen interest, the arraignment of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke at the Westminister’s Court in London, United Kingdom, following alleged bribery allegations,” the statement read.
“Although the charges preferred against her at the London court, are diametrically different from the 13-count charges bordering on money laundering the EFCC has raised against her, it is instructive to note that criminality is criminality, irrespective of jurisdictional differences.
“No crime can go unpunished. The money laundering charges for which Madueke is answerable to the EFCC, cover jurisdictions in Dubai, United Kingdom, United States of America and Nigeria
“To bring the former Minister to trial in Nigeria, an arrest warrant has been obtained and extradition proceedings have been initiated. The Commission is on course on her trial. She will soon have her day in our courts.”