I’m Dying Of Cancer, Allow Me To Return To Nigeria – Diezani Begs Tinubu
Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former petroleum minister of Nigeria, has pleaded with the government of President Bola Tinubu to allow her to return to the country and confess her financial crimes. Alison-Madueke, who fled to the United Kingdom in 2015 to evade prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is reportedly suffering from the second stage of cancer and requires lifelong medication.
In a press conference in London, the former minister admitted to embezzling billions of dollars from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector during her tenure under former President Goodluck Jonathan. She claimed to be a born-again Christian and asked for forgiveness from Tinubu and the Nigerian people. She also revealed that she had entrusted over 9 billion dollars to Dauda Lawal Dare, the current governor of Zamfara State, who was then the executive director of First Bank Nigeria PLC. She accused Dare of ignoring her calls and collaborating with the UK police to monitor her movements, possibly to claim the money after her death.
Alison-Madueke is facing multiple charges of bribery and money laundering in the UK and Nigeria. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) alleged that she had received at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, luxury vacations, and multiple London properties as kickbacks for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts. The Westminster Magistrates Court has adjourned the hearing on her case until next year. The Nigerian Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has submitted a warrant of arrest and a request for her urgent extradition to the Crown Prosecution Services of the UK. The EFCC has also initiated the process of extraditing her from the UK to face 13 counts of money laundering in Nigeria.
