Reported arrest of Diezani Alison-Madueke in London might become one of the loudest cases of a top Nigerian official prosecution.
Personality of the former petroleum minister has been associated with a series of corruption scandals and controversies.
The arrest comes days after President Buhari met with senior UK’s officials David Cameron and Gordon Brown in the course of his visit to New York. It should be recalled that during that very US trip the Nigerian leader also named himself as petroleum minister.
Naij.com considered major unresolved cases that might serve as reasons for Diezani’s persecution.
1. Private jets purchase
The minister was once accused of having spent N10 billion of public funds to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her private use.
The lawmaker who filed the motion said the expenditure would be only “a tip of the iceberg” adding that many more billions could have been frittered on flying the jet all over the world “obviously for the leisure”.
Alison-Madueke, however, strongly denied the allegation, characterising sthe stories as mere fabrication.
2. More embezzling
About a year ago Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was at that time the acting CBN governor, said Diezani was among those who should be held responsible for disappearance of $20 billion in oil revenues from the national treasury.
3. Indian commissioner has a say
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ajjampur R. Ghanashyam, has recently insisted that the NNPC had used intermediaries in the annual $14 billion dealinstead of just signing a long-term agreement with New Delhi during Diezani’s term in office.
“How many years is it? Nine years. Even to get the concession is not possible, and the money is not refunded to us. For nine years your country has been sitting on this, and they make us go round and round and round. We buy $15 billion worth of crude oil per year and we have the potential of importing $50 billion worth of crude oil from Nigeria.”
4. Generous $250 million from Deizani to Buhari?
The former minister was said to have offered this huge amount to the federal government in order to receive immunity from prosecution and investigation of any kind.
An APC members, who pleaded for anonymity, said:
“Mr President considers the $250 million as ridiculous considering the amount of money Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke is suspected to have diverted into her pocket and those of others.”
5. Asylum seeker
One of the facts that might serve as prove of the illegality of the ex-miniter’s activities is that following Buhari’s inauguration, Diezani was seeking an asylum abroad. It was reported that she had been refused on by at least six countries.
Her official media aide dismissed stories saying she had never even applied for any asylum.
SOURCE: Naij
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