Why we want Diezani back — Magu
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu yesterday said the agency was pushing to have former minister of petroleum Diezani Madueke back in Nigeria to face corruption charges.
Magu said after three years of investigation in the United Kingdom no charges have been filed against her in the UK courts, while investigations into her case have been concluded by the EFCC in Nigeria.
He spoke while fielding questions from journalists at the Jabi head office of the EFCC in Abuja, during a press conference to commemorate his three years leadership of the anticraft agency.
Alison-Madueke is allegedly responsible for $20 billion missing from the Petroleum sector, and has already been charged to court in Nigeria by the EFCC over money laundering issues.
In October 2015, Madueke was arrested by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in London, along with four other people on suspicion of corruption offences.
Magu said, “I think three years is sufficient for you to take her [Diezani] to court. There is no court process against her in the UK. Nobody is prosecuting her there.”
Also asked about the Malibu scandal involving former Nigerian government officials and International oil companies Shell and Eni, Magu said the EFCC is still interested in the matter.
He said the commission is scheduled to meet with prosecutors from Italy in Nigeria next week in an effort to bring the case to conclusion.
Earlier, the EFCC chairmen said since he took over from 2015 to 2018 the agency has secured 703 convictions.
He said assets recoveries from 2015- 2018, following court orders which granted prayers for interim and final forfeiture of looted funds include over N794billion and over $261million recovered.
He said Pounds Sterling recovered stands at 1, 115, 930.47 and 8, 168, 871. 13 Euros, while the sum of 86, 500 CFA has also been recovered.
He said hundreds of properties such as filling stations, petroleum products, land, jewellery, automobiles, real estate, vessels, hospitals, company shares and heavy machinery and broadcast equipment have been seized from corrupt elements between 2015 and 2018, among many others.