UK Crime Agency Arrests Ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Four Others

Diezani Alison-MaduekePresident Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption might have claimed its first casualty if the report of the arrest of immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by the UK National Crime Agency, is to be believed.
PREMIUM TIMES reports that Mrs. Alison-Madueke, one of the most influential member of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s kitchen cabinet, was arrested on Friday morning.
The online news medium authoritatively reported that she was arrested alongside four other people by the UK law enforcement agency.
The identities of the four other people arrested along with the ex-minister could however, not be immediately ascertained.
It was learnt that Alison-Madueke, who blocked moves by the House of Representatives to probe her alleged ostentatious lifestyle – including flying in private jets at a cost to tax payers – as a minister of Nigeria’s lucrative petroleum minister, was arrested for offences related to bribery and corruption being investigated by the UK National Crime Agency.
Her arrest was confirmed by two top British officials in London, who requested not to be named because they have no permission to speak on the issue.
The British High Commission in Nigeria also confirmed that some arrests were made Friday but declined to disclose the identities of those involved.
Joseph Abuku, Press and Public Affairs Officer, said, “This morning, five people between the ages of 21 and 60 were arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences. The crimes are being investigated by the National Crime Agency.
“The National Crime Agency does not confirm identity at arrest nor provide information that could be used to corroborate the identity of an arrested individual”.
Source: PREMIUM TIMES