EFCC To Testify Against Diezani In US, UK Using Andrew Yakubu’s Statement

EFCC To Testify Against Diezani In US, UK Using Andrew Yakubu’s Statement

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is said to have declared its readiness to present evidence against a former minister for petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke for her trial set to commence in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK).

The anti-graft agency will also be presenting evidence against Diezani’s allies and alleged co-conspirators: Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore, both of them oil barons.

EFCC had in the past stated that it was providing the US Justice Department and the UK’s National Crime Agency with the results of its investigations into the activities of Mrs Alison-Madueke as petroleum minister.

The commission is believed to have now dispatched more evidence to the US and UK which for the purpose of repatriating part of the $1.6 billion allegedly stolen by Alison-Madueke with help from Aluko and Omokore.

Omokore, Aluko and 4 others are presently being prosecuted by the EFCC before a Federal High Court in Nigeria on a 9-count charge that borders on the criminal diversion of about $1.6bn alleged to be proceeds of the sale of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

Aluko is being tried in absentia, having managed to elude local and foreign security agencies for over a year.

“We have sent evidence to the UK and the US on this case. The investigation involves many countries because these guys bought properties on different continents,” an EFCC source said.

“We also update them as the case in court continues to unfold. We will be willing to testify if need be. This was how we assisted the UK in the James Ibori case. We will continue to work together.”

It was learnt that the EFCC has been sending court testimonies to the US and the UK, as well as sworn affidavits deposed to by key witnesses against the three primary suspects.

Some of the statements said to have been dispatched include that provided by a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Andrew Yakubu who is himself facing trial for money laundering after huge bundles of foreign currency, mostly American dollars amounting to about $9.8 million were retrieved in one of his houses in Kaduna.

The Punch reports that EFCC has also shared statements made by the Managing Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, Yusufu Matashi and some EFCC operatives, with the US and UK investigators.