Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, has pointed to the complex legalities of extradition as the primary reason behind the Nigerian government’s failure to prosecute former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke for over eight years.
Allegations and Absence
Alison-Madueke is accused of embezzling millions of dollars during her tenure under former President Goodluck Jonathan. Since the end of Jonathan’s term, she has been living in the United Kingdom, evading Nigerian judicial processes.
Extradition Challenges
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today,’ Shittu explained that extraditing someone from one country to another involves numerous legal and administrative requirements. He detailed:
- Judicial Procedures: These include court orders and international legal compliance.
- Administrative Hurdles: International cooperation and agreements must be navigated.
Shittu stressed that while efforts have been made by successive Nigerian governments to bring Alison-Madueke to justice, the process is mired in legal complexities, both domestic and international.
Asset Recovery
In a related development, the Nigerian government announced the recovery of $52.88 million in assets linked to Alison-Madueke from the United States. Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi revealed this at a signing ceremony in Abuja:
- Utilization of Funds: $50 million of the recovered amount will fund a World Bank rural electrification project, while the remaining $2 million will support the expansion of Nigeria’s justice system through the International Institute of Justice, focusing on anti-corruption efforts.
The ongoing saga of Diezani Alison-Madueke underscores the challenges Nigeria faces in pursuing corruption cases across international borders, highlighting the need for streamlined extradition processes.
