Britain To Keep Over N8m Seized From Diezani Ahead Of Trial For Six Months

The British government, yesterday, seized £27,000 from embattled ex-minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was granted conditional bail by the National Crime Agency (NCA) last week.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that £5,000 and $2000 were also seized by the NCA from Beatrice Agama, Diezani’s mother.
According to a BBC report monitored in Abuja, the NCA had approached the Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Marylebone Road, London, and obtained the order to seize the said sum until April next year. The NCA is said to have applied for the seizure of the money in accordance with Section 295 of Proceeds of Crime Act 2012, POCA. In response, the court ruled that the money could be held for six months.
Some other top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) were said to be facing possible arrest and extradition to the United Kingdom to face trial along with their former boss because of the roles they allegedly played in stealing billions of petro-dollars.
Alison-Madueke did not appear in court, yesterday, but her mother, Beatrice Agama, and another woman, Melanie Spencer, reportedly, showed up.
The Presidency has confirmed that it contacted the British government on repatriation of the stolen wealth to the country but did not say whether it would ask for the extradition of the suspects for trial in the country or not.