Diezani Alison-Madueke, others arrested in London

Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke,  has today been arrested in London.

She was arrested Friday morning alongside four other people by the UK National Crime Agency.The agency’s website posted the information with a terse statement: “The National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit has arrested five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences.” (Here is the link to the agency: The National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit)

The identities of the four other people arrested along with her could not be immediately ascertained.

Joseph Abuku, Press and Public Affairs Officer, of the United Kigdom High Commission in Nigeria confirmed the arrest of five Nigerian nationals, he however, refused to spell out their identities.

“This morning, five people between the ages of 21 and 60 were arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences. The crimes are being investigated by the National Crime Agency.

“The National Crime Agency does not confirm identity at arrest nor provide information that could be used to corroborate the identity of an arrested individual.”

It is not clear whether the former minister was arrested based on request from the Nigerian government.

As Minister of Petroleum under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Diezani was regarded as very powerful and ruled her ministry and the affiliated agencies like a fiefdom.

Oil theft increased from around 100,000 barrels a day to about 300,000 barrels, with government unable to stop the massive theft.

And the country had nothing to show for the oil boom years under her watch, leading the former governor of the Central Bank to cry out over an unremitted $20 billion into the treasury.