EFCC Seeks Access To Diezani’s Assets In UK Trial for Corruption Charges

• EFCC Seeks Access To Diezani’s Assets In UK Trial for Corruption Charges

• Aim is to ensure Nigeria’s access to assets seized from the former minister, facing bribery and corruption charges

• Collaboration with UK’s NCA viewed as significant step in recovering looted assets, combating corruption

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is taking a significant stride in its pursuit of justice against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by applying to join her ongoing trial in the United Kingdom as an interested party.

This proactive measure aims to ensure Nigeria’s access to assets that may be seized from the former minister, who faces trial for alleged bribery and corruption charges.

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Sources reveal that a team from the EFCC will imminently depart for London to commence the process of filing papers as a party to the case. By doing so, the commission seeks to inform the UK court of its findings and the forfeiture order issued by a high court in Abuja regarding Diezani’s $2.5 million homes and cars.

Diezani has been on trial in the Southwark Crown Court in the UK for allegedly receiving £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) alleges that she might have “benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash” and other benefits.

A source revealed told The Nation that the EFCC’s application to join the trial is crucial for Nigeria to recover questionable assets from Diezani.

“This country may not be able to retrieve questionable assets from Diezani if the EFCC does not file an application as an interested party,” the source said. “We have received an advisory on this important bend to Diezani’s trial, and we will be part of the case in the UK.”

The EFCC has sufficient evidence against Diezani, including a court order on her $2.5 million homes and cars.

In another case, a former chairman of EFCC confirmed that the commission recovered $153 million and secured the final forfeiture of over 80 properties in Nigeria valued at about $80 million.

The allegations against Diezani by the EFCC border on alleged stealing of about $2.5 billion from Nigeria’s coffers as a minister.

In March 2023, the NCA also provided evidence to the US Department of Justice that enabled them to recover assets totaling $53.1 million linked to Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.

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Diezani Alison-Madueke’s collaboration with the EFCC and the NCA in the UK marks a significant step forward in the fight against corruption and the recovery of embezzled funds.

Andy Kelly, the Head of the NCA’s international corruption unit (ICU), emphasized the destructive impact of bribery on developing nations, stressing the importance of continued collaboration to combat this threat both domestically and internationally.

Diezani was apprehended in London in 2015 following her resignation as minister and subsequently charged with six counts of bribery in August. Despite spending over eight years on police bail, she has resided in St John’s Wood, an affluent area of London.