Thelma Osatohanmwen
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has taken a significant step towards the extradition of former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, from the United Kingdom.
This move follows a request from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
NEWSTODAYNG gathered that, the extradition request was made under the provisions of Section 2(2) of Nigeria’s Extradition Act, and it was sent to the Crown Prosecution Services in the UK, referencing the London Scheme of Extradition within the Commonwealth, a multilateral treaty governing extradition between the UK and Nigeria.
The request was initiated after the EFCC established a prima facie case against Allison-Madueke, leading to the issuance of a warrant of arrest by a Magistrate. This warrant, along with the extradition request, was sent to the UK authorities by the Attorney-General’s office.
According to the report, the process of extradition can be complex and subject to the recipient country’s legal procedures, UK authorities are currently reviewing the request, and they will ultimately determine the speed at which Diezani Allison-Madueke may be returned to Nigeria.
Earlier in October, the EFCC had disclosed its efforts to extradite Allison-Madueke from the UK to face 13-count charges related to money laundering. These charges encompass various jurisdictions, including Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the United States, and Nigeria.
Diezani Allison-Madueke recently appeared before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London over an alleged £100,000 bribe. She was granted £70,000 bail and subjected to several conditions, including a curfew and an electronic tag.
The former minister’s extradition case has garnered significant attention, and it is part of a broader effort to hold her accountable for alleged financial improprieties during her tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum. While she has not formally entered a plea, her attorney indicated that she would plead not guilty.
Diezani Allison-Madueke’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 30 at the Southwark Crown Court, which handles serious criminal cases.
