Diezani to reappear in London court next March as corruption case against her continues

FORMER petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and her mother Beatrice Agama are to appear before a London high court again in March to answer further charges relating to money laundering and bribery allegations.

 

In October last year, Ms Alison-Madueke was arrested and charged before Westminster Magistrate’s Court by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA). A sum of £27,000 was also confiscated from her after it was discovered during the police raid.

 

She has appeared in court twice and next March will be the third time that Mrs. Alison-Madueke and others would be appearing. At the moment, the former minister, her mother, son Ugonna Madueke, family friend Melanie Spencer, the wife of a Ghanaian oil tycoon Kevin Okyere and one of her siblings are all under investigation by the NCA.

 

It is typical of the NCA, drawing its authority from the Proceeds of Crime Act, to ask for more time for its investigations to build a strong case. Its investigation is now global, extending to Nigeria and Switzerland, where billionaire businessman Kola Aluko was questioned and his home raided on the request of the NCA.

 

Mr Aluko, who has Swiss nationality and owns Atlantic Energy, did some oil deals with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) when Ms Alison-Madueke was in charge. Atlantic Energy signed a lucrative strategic alliance in 2011 with NNPC, giving it the right to sell oil from four big blocks on behalf of Nigeria.

 

According to Mr Aluko, before the oil price crashed, the commercial value of the contract was estimated at $7bn. He has confirmed that he is under a probe on potential violations of the United Kingdom Proceeds of Crime Act and Bribery Act but professed his innocence.

 

 “I am willing to co-operate with anybody. I have nothing to hide,” Mr Aluko said.

 

He added that he paid the rent on a flat in St John’s Wood in London for Ms Alison-Madueke’s mother, as well as bringing her hams, sausages and orchids. All the involved in the laundering and bribery allegation risk losing the £27,000 in contention and face jail terms if the charges are proven against them in court.