Diezani Alison-Madueke The Nigerian former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow her entry into the country so she can give details of the allegations leveled against her.
Diezani was accused of embezzling billions of dollars when she was serving as a petroleum minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
She relocated to the United Kingdom after Muhammadu Buhari became president of the country in 2015. She fears biased probing of the allegations leveled against her by the country's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Diezani, who is said to be battling cancer in its second stage, has begged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow her entry to Nigeria so she can face her allegations and defend herself.
Speaking to the press in London after a medical visit, the Nigerian Tribune reported Diezani said, “I am now a born-again Christian and currently grappling with the second stage of cancer, for which my United Kingdom-based physician has advised me to continue medication for the rest of my life. Yes, no one is flawless, but sometimes, God Almighty permits such occurrences.
“I’ve been accused of financial misconduct during my tenure as the petroleum minister, and it’s true. However, I would like President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians to forgive me, allow me to return home, and contribute because life is transient.”
She went on to mention her association with Dauda Lawal Dare, the current governor of Zamfara State, to whom she entrusted over 9 billion dollars for safekeeping while he served as the Executive Director of First Bank Nigeria PLC.
She said, “My husband and my entire family members including my Nigeria lawyer based in the United Kingdom knew my relationship with Dauda Lawal Dare, the current Zamfara State governor to whom I entrusted over 9 billion dollars for safekeeping while he was the Executive Director of the First Bank Nigeria PLC.
“Unfortunately, it has now come to a point that Mr Dauda Lawal is no longer picking up my phone calls and even worked in Collaboration with UK police to put me under Surveillance, maybe to claim the money I entrusted to him when I die.”
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, submitted a warrant of arrest and request to the Crown Prosecution Services of the United Kingdom for the urgent extradition of Allison-Madueke.
EFCC had on October 2, revealed that it had commenced extraditing Mrs. Alison-Madueke from the United Kingdom back to Nigeria over 13-count charges bordering on money laundering leveled against her by the anti-graft agency.
Category: World-News
Tag: Diezani Madueke Begs Tinubu to Allow Her Return to Nigeria
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Published 12/23/2023 5:09:12 PM