Wednesday 24 August 2016

$10.3b probe: EFCC moves to seize Diezani’s assets in US

– Some properties in the U.S. allegedly owned by Diezani Alison-Madueke and her associates may soon seized

 – EFCC boss, Magu, is said to be discussing with the United States authorities how to attach the properties

 – Diezani is being probed for over $10 billion slush funds 

Former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, may lose some assets in the United States that has been traced to her. The Nation reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated a process for the seizure of the assets, in line with United States laws. It was learnt that the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu just returned from the United States where he discussed with the authorities how to attach the properties.


Diezani Alison-Madueke is being probed for over $10 billion slush funds

A top EFCC source said: “We have located some assets allegedly owned by Diezani and some of her business associates in the United States. We are already collaborating with the US Government to attach these assets.

“In fact, the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, spent about one and a half weeks in the US to work with the relevant agencies to trace Diezani’s properties, some of which are believed to have been secured through business fronts like Kola Aluko.

 “We have submitted relevant documents to the US authorities in order to facilitate the seizure of the assets.” The anti-graft agency is probing Diezani for over $10 billion slush funds and in the last one year, assets and items worth the amount has been traced to her and her business associates, Kola Aluko and Chief Jide Omokore.

The commission is working with anti-graft agencies in Britain and the United States to freeze some foreign accounts and seize some assets linked to Diezani and her associates.

Some accounts have already been frozen in some of overseas financial institutions such as BNP Paribas (Switzerland), LGT Bank (Switzerland), Standard Chartered Bank (London),Barclays Bank (London), Standard Energy (Voduz, Switzerland), HSBC (London), Corner Bank (Lugano, Switzerland) and Deutsche Bank (Geneva).

 Diezani was arrested and quizzed on October 2, 2015, by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK for alleged bribery, corruption and money laundering. That same month, the NCA obtained permission from a Westminster Magistrate’s Court to seize 27,000 pounds from the former minister. While the UK investigation was on, Diezani was implicated in another $115million poll bribery scam.

The EFCC discovered that the money came from stolen crude oil and was allegedly used bribe election officials to alter the results of the 2015 presidential election.

 In April, the commission confiscated wristwatches estimated at £2 million from the former minister and the wife of Omokore. In June, Diezani’s Abuja mansion valued at N3.58billion was officially confiscated by the EFCC.

 However, the former minister who is currently battling with cancer has described allegations against her as “cold-hearted” and inhuman. According to her, the allegations coming at a time she is battling with cancer was a poorly executed propaganda.

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