The Nigerian Government says it will only demand for the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is facing corruption investigation in the United Kingdom to be extradited to the country to face corruption charges when it deemed it is necessary. The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said this on Wednesday in Abuja during an interview granted to some Hausa service State House Correspondents.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who is under investigation by UK’s National Crime Agency, NCA, for alleged illicit possession of properties valued at £10 million, purportedly purchased for her by some businessmen while she was minister, had asked to be joined in an ongoing corruption suit against the businessmen in Nigeria.
His statement was in response to reports that the former petroleum minister was asking the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the Attorney-General to bring her back to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. Malami, however, said her extradition was not necessary since the UK government was already investigating her and taking appropriate measures on the matter.
“The truth of the matter is that steps have been taken by the United Kingdom authorities on issues bothering on corrupt practices involving Nigerians If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that.” he said.
The truth of the matter is that the government is doing something, especially on issues of corruption and litigation in Nigeria and outside the country.
As things are now, there is no need for that since the U.K. Government is already investigating her and government will not take any decision that will jeopardize what the U.K. Government is doing,” he told journalists at the State House in Abuja.
