New findings have shown how the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke got into trouble with the police in the United Kingdom.
According to punch newspaper, the purchase of the house each in London by the former minister had sent the police investigators after her since 2013. She reportely bought the London house through a mortgage and
attracted suspicion when she offered to pay huge sum to clear the
mortgage on the properties.
attracted suspicion when she offered to pay huge sum to clear the
mortgage on the properties.
A source said the ex-minister’s house
cost £12.5m.
cost £12.5m.
Interestingy it wasn’t just her, a former Managing Director of a parastatal under the NNPCwas also involved.
It was learnt that the UK’s National
Crimes Agency had dispatched a team to Abuja for an investigation into
the incomes of the affected public officers because of the huge amount
of money that was being paid steadily to defray the amount on the
mortgage.
Crimes Agency had dispatched a team to Abuja for an investigation into
the incomes of the affected public officers because of the huge amount
of money that was being paid steadily to defray the amount on the
mortgage.
The source said, “This particular
investigation did not originate from Nigeria. I can tell you that this
is different from the investigation being conducted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission into the financial operations of the NNPC
under Alison-Madueke.
investigation did not originate from Nigeria. I can tell you that this
is different from the investigation being conducted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission into the financial operations of the NNPC
under Alison-Madueke.
“This is a strictly UK investigation and
it has to do with the procurement of a property in the UK for £12.5m
through a mortgage arrangement in London.
it has to do with the procurement of a property in the UK for £12.5m
through a mortgage arrangement in London.
“The UK authorities became suspicious
when they realised that the agreed monthly amount for the mortgage was
too high for the income of a public official without other sources of
income.
when they realised that the agreed monthly amount for the mortgage was
too high for the income of a public official without other sources of
income.
“You know the (UK) people; they kept
quiet when the whole arrangement was going on in 2013. They allowed the
funds to go into their economy before they moved in against them with
the intent to seize the properties.
quiet when the whole arrangement was going on in 2013. They allowed the
funds to go into their economy before they moved in against them with
the intent to seize the properties.
“She was not the only person that bought
the properties. The other guy, a close ally from the NNPC also bought a
house in London. These are the issues the UK police are investigating.”
the properties. The other guy, a close ally from the NNPC also bought a
house in London. These are the issues the UK police are investigating.”
The investigation, which commenced in
2013 climaxed Friday last week with the arrest of Alison-Madueke and
four others by the UK police for alleged fraud.
2013 climaxed Friday last week with the arrest of Alison-Madueke and
four others by the UK police for alleged fraud.