How Alison-Madueke’s lawyer blocked us from interrogating her in UK – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has claimed its investigative team has been blocked from meeting with the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the United Kingdom. The ex-minister has been staying in the UK since 2015 when investigation into her tenure began. But EFCC stated that its efforts to interrogate her over the allegations had been abortive as her lawyer, John Binns of BCL Solicitors, refused to allow the commission’s team of investigators, led by Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, to meet with her in the UK earlier in March this year. A detective with the commission, Mr. Rufai Zaki, who deposed to the EFCC’s counter-affidavit, added that it was not yet possible to bring the former minister back to Nigeria as she was being investigated by the UK’s Metropolitan Police for several other financial crimes, saying the probe had reached an advanced stage. In one of the nine counts, the anti-graft agency alleged that Alison-Madueke and other officials aided and abetted Omokore in committing money laundering offences in relation to the diversion of the crude oil money. Zaki, the deponent to the EFCC’s counter-affidavit, stated that Alison-Madueke had absconded to the UK after leaving office in 2015 upon realising that the EFCC had commenced investigation into her activities. He stated in the counter-affidavit, “That sometime in 2015, the commission received an intelligence report bordering on abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, stealing, conversion and receiving stolen properties. “That the commission further assessed the intelligence report and found that there was merit in same. Investigation was conducted in respect of this case before a charge was preferred against the defendants (Omokore and others). “That at the tail end of the tenure of the applicant as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the commission received a lot of complaints and intelligence reports against the applicant, alleging that she was involved in various corrupt practices, money laundering, stealing of public funds and illegal acquisition of properties within and outside Nigeria. “That immediately the applicant (Alison-Madueke) got to know that investigations had commenced in respect of her various nefarious illegal financial activities while she was the Minister of Petroleum Resources, she absconded from Nigeria in order to escape the investigation and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission “That upon realising that the applicant is in the United Kingdom, we made efforts to schedule a meeting with the applicant in order to interview her in respect of her involvement in the activities leading to this charge and many other alleged financial crimes linked to her but up till now, she had always avoided having any meeting with members of our team. “That the applicant’s lawyer in the United Kingdom, one John Binns of BCL Solicitors, informed the members of the team of investigators headed by Abdulrasheed Bawa, when they visited the United Kingdom in March, 2017, that the team would not be permitted to meet the applicant for any interview in view of the fact that she is not within the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “That while in the United Kingdom, the applicant had been invited by the Metropolitan Police, who are investigating her for several other financial crimes. She has been released on bail in the United Kingdom but could not leave the United Kingdom as their investigations have reached advanced stages.” The six, named as defendants in the case in which Alison-Madueke had sought to be joined as a defendant, include Omokore; his two companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited. The other defendants are a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Abiye Membere; and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.

Buhari arrives New York, listed as 8th Speaker at UNGA

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in New York to join other world leaders for the one week 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) high-level events starting on Tuesday. The President was accompanied by Govs. Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara, David Umahi of Ebonyi and Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of Ondo state. He was received at the JF Kennedy Airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande. The president was thereafter, welcomed at about 8:30 p.m. at his lodge by the Ministers of Solid Minerals Kayode Fayemi, Education, Adamu Adamu, and Industry, Trade and Investment counterpart, Okechukwu Enelamah. The others were the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril; his Budget and National Planning counterpart Zainab Ahmed, presidential aides as well as members of staff of the Nigerian Missions in the U.S. Buhari will deliver Nigeria’s National Statement on Tuesday, the first day of the general debate. He has been listed as the eighth speaker of the 193 Head of States expected to address the General Debate of the General Assembly. The theme for this year’s debate is ‘Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet’. The president will also join other world leaders at the welcoming reception to be hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and hold a bilateral meeting with the UN chief. Aside other high-level engagements, he will have a lunch meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, along with other world leaders. Nigeria will also participate in high-level meetings on ‘Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Building Momentum for Change’, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, a High Level Event organised by AU under its theme of the Year:‘Roadmap on the Demographic Dividend:From Commitment to Action’, among others. It is expected that the president and members of his delegation will project Nigeria as a strong moral force and responsible member of the international community. Nigeria’s commitment to global peace, security and development will also be reaffirmed, with the need for increased international cooperation in the fight corruption. Other priorities for the Nigerian delegation at 72nd UN General Assembly include strengthening human rights institutions, the rule of law, support for internally displaced persons arising from Boko Haram activities and recent flooding and mitigating the effects of climate change. The Nigerian delegation is expected to also canvass the support of UN member states for the Buhari administration’s efforts towards combating illicit financial flows in order to foster sustainable development.

Former Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen resigns from Sunshine stars blames referees’ attitude

Ex super eagle coach, Augustin Eguavoen has just resigned as the head Coach of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure following a string of poor performances in the Nigerian Professional Football..........See More