By George Samuel
The acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has told Nigerians in the diaspora to pressure the UK government to release Diezani Allison-Madueke, a former minister for trial. The EFCC has alleged that Diezani, a former minister of petroleum resources, perpetuated money laundering to the tune of $2.5 billion when she served under the Jonathan administration.
Magu said Nigerians in diaspora can help to expose foreign assets of Nigerian politicians.
Magu during a virtual town hall meeting with Nigerians in the diaspora, on Saturday, May 24, urged them to collaborate with the EFCC and pressure the authorities into bring Diezani to face trial, The Cable reports.
A spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, disclosed that the acting chairman said Diezani had not been brought to trial for the allegations of corruption against her in Nigeria. He asked Nigerians in diaspora to assist in the fight against corruption, by exposing foreign assets of Nigerian politicians through the government’s whistleblowing policy.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) has threatened to file a suit against the EFCC to compel it to take action on a forgery allegation levelled against Uchechukwu Ogah, minister of state for mines and steel development. The minister had been accused of forgery by a private businesswoman over a business deal in 2011. COPA convener, Pelumi Olajenbesi, speaking with reporters after he filed a reminder to his petition on Wednesday, May 20, said they are ready to compel EFCC through the courts to begin an investigation into the minister and his alleged deeds.
However, Ndubuisi Okonta, a counsel to Ogah, has since dismissed the allegation as false. In another report, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has stated that the list of all participating vendors in the modified School Feeding Programme will be submitted to the EFCC.
The humanitarian Affairs minister, Sadiya Farouq, who said this at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 daily news briefing on Friday in Abuja, noted that it was for the purpose of transparency and accountability. She said the modified school feeding programme was being funded by the federal government, implemented by states and facilitated by the ministry.