EFCC reveals that it is stepping up the fight to get Diezani extradited from the UK to face trial

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have confirmed that they have stepped up plans to extradite former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke from the UK to face corruption charges in Nigeria.

Since leaving office in 2015 and going into exile in the UK, Ms Alison-Madueke has been the subject of numerous investigations in Nigeria and internationally. She has been asked to forfeit UK properties worth over £11m and has recently been forced to surrender about N7.6bn hidden in a Nigerian bank to the government.

EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu, said only about 15% of funds allegedly misappropriated by the former minister had been recovered. He added that the commission was working with the United Kingdom on her case, noting that efforts were being made to extradite her back to Nigeria to face trial.

Anti-corruption pressure group Our Mumu Don Do  that organised the  campaign which resulted in President Muhammadu Buhari returning from London has now turn its attention to getting Ms Alison-Madueke extradited from the UK. Led by musical icon Charles, Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, it has held sit-ins outside the EFCC offices in Abuja demanding her repatriation.

Mr Magu said: “I want you to know that nobody will go unpunished. We are even seeking to extradite Diezani but investigations are still ongoing.

 “We have reached a level where nobody can stop us in the fight against corruption but we all must realise that we are all stakeholders and this fight is for the future generation. All Nigerians must play their roles because the EFCC can only do its best but we must support the agency and the law should take its course."

He said policies should be strengthened and punishment must be meted out in good time. In addition, Mr Magu also blamed recent separatist agitations in Nigeria on corruption.

“Every evil that is happening now is caused by corruption, including agitations, strikes, whatever. Corruption has chased our good human resources out of the country and it is the duty of this generation to correct the evils caused by corruption,” Mr Magu added.