The acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has accused some foreign countries of sabotaging Nigeria’s efforts at repatriating a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke.
Mrs. Allison-Madueke who was in charge of the Petroleum Ministry under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, is currently in London.
She is facing multiple charges of corruption by EFCC which has failed to bring her back to the country since 2015.
Magu who made the allegation on Wednesday during an official visit to the Ibadan zonal office of the commission, did not name the countries.
He explained that sabotage on the part of some foreign countries over Allison-Madueke’s case, may be behind failure to bring her back.
He wondered why the countries would keep her from the Commission for no just reason.
According to him, “They have not taken her to court and this is the fifth year. Why should you be investigating a case for five years? It is a straight case and not a murder case which takes longer processes.
“You know it is a financial crime investigation. It is a straight forward case. If you don’t have sufficient evidences to take her to court, bring her back. We have more than enough evidences to take her to court.
“I don’t know why they are protecting her. Release her and let her come back to Nigeria. They are giving her protection for reasons best known to them.
“They have yet to declare any evidence recovered against her. They are still relying on our evidences,” he said.
Magu who also spoke on the recent raid of an Ibadan night club by EFCC operatives, explained that there was nothing wrong in raiding suspected internet fraudsters at the night club.
Magu noted that the commission was evolving ways of rehabilitating them and bring them back to the society, adding that they were young intelligent Nigerians, who could still be useful to the society.
“We go against fraudsters who made their money illegally, and we only do that when we have actionable intelligence,” he said.
No Comments