IN the wake of new revelations of graft against her, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's disgraced former Minister of Petroleum, has continued to send emissaries to beg President Muhammadu Buhari for a reprieve over allegations of embezzlement for which she is being investigated. Over the weekend, reliable presidency sources told The Abuja Inquirer, that the former minister has reached out to "some close, personal friends" of the President to beg him to reign in the security agencies and give her a soft landing.
In return, the Minister is offering to refund Two Billion US Dollars and to cooperate with federal officials in tracing looted funds that have been siphoned abroad by her various cronies. We gathered that the President would hear none of that and is insisting that justice must take its course.
Last week, the Nation newspaper reported that The Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC) has seized properties and very expensive jewelry belonging to Diezani Alison-Madueke. The report says the EFFCC confiscated several posh houses in choice parts of Nigeria and a very expensive wrist watch worth £600, 000 and other gold and diamonds from the shamed minister and the wife of one of her business partners, Mr Jide Omokore.
The Nation, quoting an unnamed EFCC source, said: "We have seized many houses belonging to Diezani and Omokore on Banana Island and other places. Also, a wristwatch of about £1.4million was seized from Omokore’s wife. From the former minister, we have retrieved a choice wrist watch worth £600,000 and jewelry in gold and diamond. We will soon show Nigerians all these items for them to appreciate what we have done and to learn some lessons.”
Mrs. Diezani is being tried for money laundering in a London court. Her son is also reported to be wanted by EFCC.
Diezani Alison-Madueke was one of the closest ministers to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, both of whom are from Bayelsa state. She has been fingered in many dubious deals, particularly in the oil industry.
This is not the first time Diezani is offering to refund money to the Federal government. Premium Times reported a while ago that when President Buhari was to meet with US officials including the US Attorney General, Ms Loretta Lynch, to discuss how the US government can facilitate the investigation, arrest and prosecution of some officials of the Jonathan administration implicated in the theft of billions of dollars, she reportedly spoke to the Kaduna state governor, MALLAM Nasir el-Rufai to intercede on her behalf with the President but was rebuffed by the Governor.
Source: The Abuja Inquire
10:11:00
Why are we Nigerians so difficult to our country Nigeria! It's very unfortunate for our country Nigeria because we're evil to ourselves and country!! We Nigerians are the most problem of the our country Nigeria with our doing by looting the country to death!!! What will anybody be doing with over $2 billion loot? These money is vernity upon verity.
ReplyDeleteThunder fire her head
ReplyDeleteWe Nigerian are d problem of our selves Infact all this money no one will follow u go to heaven, how can somebody loot her country with over £2billion when citizen are swiming in d pool of poverty she should be giving death sentence by firing squad or by hanging.
ReplyDeleteDiezani, Alex Bade and Dasuki should be hanged.If not Buhari we would've known that these thieves hv gone away with BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Millions of Nigerians cannot afford a square meal in a day.GOD and the heads of the dead will not forgive them.
ReplyDeleteMy appeal to d president is accept all cash offer no matter how much, then continue d dialogue
ReplyDeleteDizani you have nonsense
ReplyDeleteI'm in support of getting the money first creat some sort of forum to allow recovery of the rest of the funds, allow her to come back into Nigeria engage some sort of dialogue so we can maximise the recovery. Nigerians needed money right now not imprisoning individual, she's scared of going to prison, give her an immunity recover the money and start something tangible for Nigerians
ReplyDelete