Interpol Issues Arrest Warrant For Diezani Allison-Madueke

The International Police (Interpol) have issued an arrest warrant for Nigeria’s former minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison- Madueke, according to PUNCH.

This is coming after a request made by the Federal Government to the agency.

“We have filed the necessary processes and the Interpol has red-flagged Allison-Madueke. This means that the extradition process has been kick-started and the former minister may be arrested by the United Kingdom police or any police agency all over the world and repatriated to Nigeria,” the newspaper quoted its sources as saying.

It was gathered that the necessary charges had been filed and attached to the extradition request by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). 

This literally means all Interpol member countries are obliged to arrest the former minister anywhere she is seen on their territories.

The EFCC acting spokesman, Tony Orilade, was also quoted as saying that the agency has collaborated with all relevant agencies, including Interpol to ensure the extradition of the former minister.

He said: “I cannot really confirm to you if Interpol has issued a warrant of arrest on Diezani, because Interpol is a different agency, but what I can tell you is that the EFCC is collaborating with all relevant agencies across board, including Interpol, to ensure that she is repatriated.”

The former minister has been in London, United Kingdom (UK), for over three years.

She left Nigeria for the UK shortly before the inception of the current administration but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed charges against her.

A Nigerian court then directed the Inspector General of Police; EFCC Chairman, Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and all heads of other agencies to apprehend the ex-petroleum minister.