The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has lauded the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to extradite the former Minister Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to face corruption charges leveled against her.
This comes from the reports of the acting spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Mr Tony Orilade where he confirmed that the charge is to initiate the extradition proceedings.
The commencement of this move was confirmed on Monday, with the leave granted the EFCC by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, to prosecute the former minister and one of her associates, Mr Jide Omokore, before the court on Monday,25th February, 2019.
Reacting to the information, Mr. Debo Adeniran, the Executive Chairman of CACOL said: “The Diezani Alison-Madueke’s saga has lingered for too long even to the point where she fled the country for the UK while investigations into the allegations against her were ongoing. She will not be the first person to try to escape from justice, Olisa Metuh and others in the same category have at one time or the other tried to stall and frustrate the judicial system but, it is unfortunate for her this time because the EFCC are fully at work”.
Adeniran also said: “I do not think our anti-graft agencies have made enough examples of these corrupt indices in our society by meting-out maximum sanctions in a bid to deter intending defaulters”.
CACOL boss concluded that: ‘The EFCC should be ready to make the former minister honour the invitation to return to the country; to be prosecuted. It will serve as a way of warning and discouraging others from abusing their offices and running to other countries to plead shelter over their corrupt acts or try other means to frustrate their trials. We also call on the EFCC to be diligent in the proceedings and prosecution of Diezani, especially with the benefits of the time-lag they had to garner evidences and interrogate witnesses, and ensure that the trial is as transparent as possible to eradicate incidences of foul play.
