The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared that there has not been any positive result on the trial of former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, over alleged corrupt practices.
Nothing, the EFCC said, had been recovered from the $2.4 billion allegedly frittered away be the ex-minister.
The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a team of International Criminal Police Organisation.
He noted too with dismay that it had been problematic bringing back Alison-Madueke back to Nigeria along with another former Petroleum Minister and others abroad facing corruption charges.
He said it was high time they were prosecuted or handed over to Nigeria to achieve positive result.
He however said the trial had made the alleged corrupt persons uncomfortable.
Magu said the United Kingdom had been too slow over the Alison-Madueke’s case, saying it had been on for a long period of four years.
His words: “There is the case of Diezani which has been going on for over four years and the amount involved is about $2.4 billion and no kobo has been recovered from overseas.
“Though we have not been able to arrest some of these fleeing people, it is good that they know they are on red notice, as there are Nigerians like Diezani whom we have applied for.”
Giving assurance to the Interpol of the commission’s commitment to share information, he expressed joy that the collaboration between the two organs had been yielding fruits.
“We are willing to cooperate with Interpol at all times, if there is anything other enforcement agencies cannot provide especially in financial crime, the Interpol is sure to get result here in EFCC because we specialise in financial crime, money laundering and terrorist financing.
“We are thankful for Interpol residency in the EFCC 24/7. We are delighted that the collaboration with Interpol is yielding results, especially in the area of intelligence.”
