There is a lot of tension among Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s ministers and allies as former Petroleum minister, Dieziani Allison-Madueke heads to a UK court to face corruption trials any moment from now.
Overwhelmed by the arrest of the former oil minister, some former ministers visited President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday and Saturday for a “review of the situation and other allegations against the immediate past administration.” But the details of what transpired were unknown as at press time.
Sources has revealed that the OPEC president has cut off contact with all Nigerians since her arrest and bail in London.
The source said “Those in Jonathan’s camp were shocked by Diezani’s arrest. They have been desperately trying to get in touch with the ex-Minister since yesterday without success.“As at today (yesterday), they are worried that Diezani has cut off contact with everyone, creating fears that she might spill the beans.
“The fear in Jonathan’s camp is that Diezani might be given the James Ibori treatment. They are suspecting that she might be tried and convicted in the UK.”
“None of us has been able to reach out to Diezani because all her lines are off. She has also not called to share her travails with anybody.”
Two former ministers however said they were indifferent to Alison-Madueke’s plight. One of them said: “I think many of us won’t be surprised because even at FEC we saw it coming.
“Some of our colleagues, virtually hero-worshipped her even though we were supposed to be equal in the cabinet.”
EFCC team likely for London
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) plans to send a team to London to be part of the former minister’s trial.
Mrs Alison-Madueke, who is on bail, is expected to be charged to court in London for alleged money laundering and other related offences by the NCA.
Most cabinet colleagues of the ex-minister have been indifferent to her travails because they “saw it coming”.
Although some of the former ministers met with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja at the weekend to review the situation, they had “little concern” for her.
Jonathan was said to be trying to get in touch with the ex-minister to “get first hand information” on her arrest.
The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of NCA on Friday arrested Alison-Madueke and four others.
The EFCC collaborated with the NCA in investigating Mrs Alison-Madueke in the last two years.
It was gathered that the EFCC made vital documents, including details of bank transactions of some of her business associates, available to the NCA.
The search on her residence on Friday was said to be the part of the concluding stage of the initial investigation.
A top source in EFCC said: “The arrest and the impending arraignment of Mrs Alison-Madueke have been a joint collaboration between the EFCC and the NCA.
“There is no way we will not be part of the trial. Definitely, we are sending a team to the UK but I cannot give you the details.
“If you recall, some of our investigators were in the UK during the trial of ex-Governor James Ibori. This practice will not be an exception in the trial of the ex-minister.
“We have documents to give to NCA; we have a lot to clarify in confidence. We are also ready to testify.”
As at last night, the NCA was not forthcoming on its website whether Alison-Madueke and four others will be arraigned in court today.
The agency only said the suspects were released on bail “pending further investigation”.
It said: “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 began in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, and transferred to the NCA earlier this year.”
The ICU was established to “ trace and recover the proceeds of international corruption”.
NCA said: “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.
It is the tradition of foreign courts to lighten the sentences of suspects if they cooperate with investigations and it seems like Mrs Allison-Madueke is looking to cut such a deal with the authorities.