Omotolani Oresanwo
A report by Channels TV disclosed that the London Police confirmed the arrest of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke, that she had been charged to court for money laundering and expected to appear at the Charing Cross Police Station for questioning on Monday.
According to report, the former minister was arrested by the operatives of the National Crime Agency in London, the United Kingdom.
It was, however, learnt that she was granted bail hours after she was detained.
Operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission also on Friday have taken over her residence in Asokoro, Abuja shortly after her arrest.
Investigations revealed that Alison-Madueke was arrested in relation to offences bordering on fraud and bribery.
The Spokesman for the UK High Commission in Abuja, Joe Abuku, confirmed that five persons were arrested by the agency.
The International Corruption Unit of the NCA, on its website, also confirmed the arrest of five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering activities.
The ICU is mainly responsible for investigating international corruption affecting developing countries.
According to report, the Seizure Organised Crime Agency within the National Crimes Agency of the UK was responsible for arresting Alison-Madueke over the ongoing probe of allegations against her.
The former Petroleum Minister was picked up by operatives of the SOCA at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which had also been probing her in Nigeria, discreetly.
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SOCA and EFCC were said to have a working relationship when it comes to investigation of allegations of financial crimes and proceeds of crimes.
A source in EFCC disclosed that the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Alison-Madueke was arrested by the UK’s National Crimes Agency, not the Metropolitan Police.
The source speaking further according to Punch quipped that, “There is an agency within the National Crimes Agency called the Seizures Organised Crimes Agency. She was actually arrested by operatives of SOCA because the agency has a working agreement with the EFCC.
“We have been cooperating with SOCA on a number of issues. “I can tell you that Diezani is being quizzed over allegations of bribery and fraud by the UK police.”
Investigations further revealed that the EFCC dispatched a team of crack investigators to Alison-Madueke’s residence at Frederick Chiluba Avenue, Asokoro, Abuja, moments after the commission was alerted that the investigation had commenced from the UK’s end.
It was further gathered that the EFCC operatives were still searching her residence as at the time of filing this report.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren could not be reached for comment on the issue as repeated calls to his mobile telephone line indicated that it was either switched off or in an area outside network coverage.
EFCC operatives has also stormed the home of Jide Omokore, one of Diezani business allies while she was the oil minister.
Omokore owns SPOG and Atlantic Energy and is said to be involved in multi-billion dollar oil deals, including kerosene scam that denied Nigeria’s treasury over $6bn.
It was reported by Sahara Reporters that Omokore’s 9 Turnbull Street home in Ikoyi, Lagos and his Glover Street, Ikoyi office were searched by the EFCC operatives.
