Henzodaily.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
A senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former EFCC prosecutor, Wahab Shittu, has highlighted the challenge before the federal government in the quest to extradite ex-minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, for trial.
Lawyer gives reason Nigerian government led by Tinubu is yet to prosecute Diezani.
Photo credit: JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images
FG to receive $52.88 million linked to Diezani
Shittu spoke on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, monitored by Henzodaily.ng on Friday, January 10, 2025.
He reacted to the American government’s return of $52.88 million in recovered assets to Nigeria.
The recoveries were linked to a former Nigerian minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and her associates.
What Shtiiu said about Diezani’s extradition
According to Shittu, “legal and extra-legal hurdles” remain a significant challenge in the extradition of the ex-minister for prosecution back home.
Explaining further, the Offa born legal luminary from Kwara State said: “You know the extradition procedures of getting somebody who has taken flight from one country to another involve legal compliance procedures that must be satisfied before someone can be extradited to Nigeria.
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“There are judicial procedures and international administrative protocols that must be complied with.
“Successive Nigerian governments, particularly this administration, are making efforts to ensure Diezani is brought back to face her trials. However, legal and extra-legal hurdles remain a significant challenge.
“These challenges demonstrate the complexity of international justice systems adding that “but efforts must continue until justice is served.”
On Friday, the Nigerian and US governments signed an asset return agreement on $52.88 million recovered from the Galactica assets.
The assets were linked to Alison-Madueke and her associates.
The EFCC had alleged that the former minister stole $2.5 billion from Nigeria’s coffers during her stint as minister.
In October 2015, Alison-Madueke and four other persons were arrested in the UK over alleged bribery and money laundering offences.
However, In August 2023, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said they suspected she had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.
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Breaking: US govt returns ex-minister Diezani’s $52.88 million assets to Nigeria, details emerge
The Southwark Crown Court in the UK has been prosecuting her over the alleged crime.
Read more about Diezani Alison-Madueke:
Did Diezani beg Tinubu to return to Nigeria?
Meanwhile, the former minister of petroleum denied granting an interview in London recently where she begged President Bola Tinubu to allow her to return home.
Diezani, who served in Goodluck Jonathan’s government, fled Nigeria in 2015 and has been in the United Kingdom (UK).
The erstwhile minister said she did not grant any interview recently and described the report as “fake” and “concocted.”
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Source: Henzodaily.ng