Nigeria should request to be joined in the suit against Diezani Alison-Madueke-ANEEJ

ABUJA, NIGERIA. August 27, 2023… Following, Tuesday’s British police charge of former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke with bribery offences, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and anchor of the anti-corruption cluster of the Nigeria Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project has called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration to show to the world, its anti-corruption stance by formally requesting to be joined in the suit.

ANEEJ Executive Director and Vice Chairman, UNCAC Coalition, the Rev David Ugolor said that the Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Gagbemi need to swing into action immediately by ensuring the Nigerian State is joined in the suit and providing the legal support needed to prosecute the case, so it doesn’t end up like the Glencore case where Nigeria lost billions of pounds for staying away from the prosecution of oil thieves in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“The Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney-General should rise up to the occasion. The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi should provide all necessary support to the UK Government in this case,” Ugolor stated.

“If in a statement released on Tuesday August 22 by Andy Kelly who is the Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit, said they believe Diezani abused her power while serving as the Minister of Petroleum Resources during the Goodluck Jonathan administration as well as President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), then President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must take interest in such a case. They should provide all necessary evidence required by the UK Court where most Nigerian corrupt elite are served justice,” Ugolor averred.

It will be recalled that the British police on Tuesday said Diezani was charged with bribery offences after they suspected that she had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” said Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit. These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.”Kelly said

The ANEEJ helmsman noted that Civil Society Organisations would follow up on the Diezani case in London to be sure it does not go the way of the Glencore case. “We would ratchet up our contacts across the country and in the UK to ensure that justice was done in the suspected case of Bribery levelled against Diezani Alison Madueke by the British police.”

Alison-Madueke is accused of benefitting from at least 100,000 pounds in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.

Charges against her also show financial rewards including furniture, renovation work, and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods, the NCA said.

British police said she is currently living in St John’s Wood, an upmarket area of west London, and would appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 2

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed several cases against the former petroleum minister, some of which have led to assets forfeiture. On August 8, 2017, the EFCC released an expose titled, ‘EFCC traces N47.2bn, $487.5m to ex-Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke’, accusing the former minister of fraud and money laundering.

ANEEJ and its eight (8) cluster members are implementing the “Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria” project, which is a subset of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project being implemented by Palladium with support from USAID. The project is advocating for reforms in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to improve the livelihoods of the people of the oil-rich Niger Delta Region.