Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was arrested in London last week alongside other Nigerians for alleged fraud and money laundering activities may be charged to court today. Her arrest was effected last Friday by the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the UK which in its website posted a terse statement announcing the arrest of five persons.

UK police sources said they have ample evidence to commence prosecution. The source refused to say categorically if she and her accomplices in the alleged crime would be charged today but going by conventional UK prosecutory processes, the former minister may appear in court today. Also to appear with her are the other four persons whose identities the UK authorities have declined to disclose until they are charged.

The statement read: “On Friday 2nd October, the National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit arrested five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences. All five people arrested were released on conditional police bail later that evening, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas.

“The investigation commenced in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, and was transferred to the NCA earlier this year. “

But investigations have since established that one of the suspects was Alison-Madueke who had been holidaying in London after much noise and heat generated by her activities at the Petroleum Ministry which she headed under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Meanwhile the Presidency on Sunday confirmed the arrest of former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke in London saying it is working closely with British law enforcement over allegations of corruption and money laundering levelled on the former minister.

Speaking with Premium Times, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu said, “Nigerian authorities are saying for the first time that matters are being handled with seriousness and deep commitment. Nobody wants to give the impression that this government is frivolous and unserious. “For this reason, government is only confirming active collaboration. Beyond this, we are not saying more. In due course, Nigerians will be briefed on updates as appropriate.”

Asked about the identities of the other four people arrested with the former minister, Mr. Shehu declined comments, saying, “as I said no one is willing to provide further details at this point”. It was reported that there were indications, that the minister, was arrested and released in the United Kingdom, on Friday, on money laundering allegations, and may be charged to court, this week. It was also reported yesterday that there were indications, that the minister, was arrested and released in the United Kingdom, on Friday, on money laundering allegations, and may be charged to court, this week.

It was learnt that besides the four other persons arrested with the former minister, more suspects may also be arraigned. Meanwhile, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives, who raided the Abuja home of Allison-Madueke, just at about the time of her arrest in the UK, on Friday, reportedly recovered cash running into millions of Naira. The trial is expected to be conducted in London and is likely to draw thousands of Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom (UK) but no date was specified, last night, when Sunday Vanguard made contacts with the National Crime Agency (NCA), which arrested and released Diezani and the four others on Friday. An official of the NCA gave indication of the trial in a telephone chat but pointed out that the identities of all the suspects would only be unveiled at the point of charging them to court.

The International Corruption Unit (ICU) investigates:

• Bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK; and
• Money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates.

The ICU will also:

• Trace and recover the proceeds of international corruption;
• Support foreign law enforcement agencies with international anti-corruption investigations;
• Engage with government and business to reduce the UK’s exposure to the proceeds of corruption; and
• Work with business to support increased compliance with the Bribery Act 2010

The ICU draws on the specialist support available to it within the NCA, and works closely with other UK law enforcement agencies and overseas partners.

In line with the UK Anti-Corruption Plan, the ICU replaces the MPS Proceeds of Corruption Unit and the City of London Police Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit.