AGF Malami currently not interested in ex-minister's return from UK

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has made clear his intentions to not interrupt in the prosecution of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by authorities of the United Kingdom.

On Tuesday, October 3, 2017, the embattled former minister's counsel, Obinna Onya, filed a motion in court for her to be added as a defendant in a N450m money laundering trial of her associates Dele Belgore (SAN) and former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

In the motion in Justice Rilwan Aikawa's Federal High Court in Lagos, Onya argued that since the former minister was mentioned in the money laundering charge sheet, she had to be named as a defendant by the prosecution so that she can be afforded the opportunity to defend herself.

Onya further argued that since the former minister is willing to appear before the court, the presiding judge, should allow an amendment be made to the charges to include her as a defendant.

The filed motion asked the court to mandate the Attorney General's office "to facilitate the prompt appearance of the applicant in court on the next adjourned date, to take her plea and to defend the allegations made against her in counts 1, 2,3 and 4 of the charge, numbered FHC/L/35c/2017."

In response to the motion, AGF Malami said the Federal Government will not commit to any action that'll jeopardise the ex-minister's prosecution in the UK as she is also waiting to stand trial there for alleged bribery, corruption and money laundering.

While speaking to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, October 4, AGF Malami said, "The truth of the matter is that steps have been taken by the United Kingdom authorities on issues bothering on corrupt practices involving Nigerians.

"If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that.

"As things are now, there is no need for that since the UK Government is already investigating her and government will not take any decision that will jeopardise what the UK Government is doing.

"Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is facing charges of money laundering and acquisition of properties in United Kingdom. So, it is important to face the charges there than for her to come as a mere witness in a case in Nigeria."

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There have been several public pleas for the Federal Government to extradite the former minister to face trial in Nigeria for the slew of corruption allegations against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but the presidency has always maintained that she'll be tried in the UK first.