EFCC officials oppose Diezani's attempts to return to Nigeria saying she wants to flee from UK justice

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have vowed to resist attempts by former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to evade prosecution in the UK by returning home to Nigeria to face trial there instead.

Since leaving office in 2015, Ms Alison-Madueke has taken up residence in London but has been arrested over money laundering claims. She is currently out on bail and amid signs that she faces possible prosecution and conviction, Ms Alison-Madueke has asked to be allowed to return to Nigeria so she can answer the charges there.

However, EFCC officials are aware of the fact that she is more likely to face the full wrath of the law in the UK than in Nigeria where smart lawyers can thwart justice. Fresh on their minds will be the case of former Delta State governor Chief James Ibori, who was acquitted in Nigeria but later jailed for 13 years in London for money laundering.

Over recent weeks, Ms Alison-Madueke has expressed her preference to face trial at home and she has pleaded with the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the government to facilitate her return to Nigeria. She asked for an opportunity to defend allegations against her in a charge filed against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Dele Belgore and former national planning minister Abubakar Suleiman.

However, EFCC officials believe that the ex-minister’s statement is part of a grand delay strategy to escape justice in London. EFCC officials are relying on the strict nature of the British anti-graft law to prosecute her and also aware of the huge cost of hiring a defence team there which could further drain her already depleted  financial resources.

One EFCC official said: “We see her as making moves to frustrate the course of justice after we have hauled a lot of evidence to the United Kingdom. If she comes back, she will come up with frivolous applications up to the Supreme Court level to halt her probe and she might take advantage of the law to frustrate investigation and her arraignment in court.

“Intelligence also revealed that she is already afraid that she might face trial before some conservative judges who may strictly apply the UK law against corruption. So, she is just afraid of the long arm of the law catching up with her.”

Already, the EFCC has seized more than 56 houses from her and the US Department of Justice has already proclaimed the EFCC right with its investigation. In addition, the US Department of Justice through its  Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, is already seeking to recover $144m in assets from some associates of Ms Alison-Madueke.