Met Police deny involvement in Alison-Madueke’s arrest

• We’re working with Britain to prosecute her, says FG 

THE London Metropolitan Police yesterday said they had nothing to do with Friday’s arrest and passport seizure of Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Meanwhile, the presidency yesterday said it is working with Britain over allegations of corruption and money laundering against former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in London.

The issue is being handled with seriousness and deep commitmen, according to a statement from Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. Speaking exclusively with The Guardian yesterday, a Met Police press officer said: “We’re not part of that investigation, so you will have to speak with the agency’s press department.”

Asked specifically if the Met Police knew or took part in her arrest, passport (British) seizure and being asked to report to the Charing Cross Police station tomorrow, the officer replied, “No, it’s being handled by the agency, it didn’t involve us, so we won’t be able to comment or say anything about that particular individual.” When The Guardian contacted the National Crime Agency, a spokesman for the organisation said: “I couldn’t tell you, it should be on the website.”

When asked if the former minister and others arrested with her were charged to a Magistrate’s Court before her passport was seized, he simply said: “Anything related to this, I’m not allowed to tell because we’ve been instructed not to give any information about this.”

Meanwhile, as The Guardian also made attempts to get in touch with one of the former minister’s siblings, his phone was unreachable but a source who had known the sibling for over 30 years since their early days in Port Harcourt, said he couldn’t tell if the cleric will know the state of mind of his sister. “For this reason, government is only confirming active collaboration.

Beyond this, we are not saying more. In due course, Nigerians will be briefed on updates as appropriate.” Garba said Shortly after Alison-Madueke was arrested on Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives, had raided the Abuja home of Allison-Madueke, and reportedly recovered cash running into millions of naira.

While the trial will hold in London at a yet-to-be announced date, the NCA had disclosed that the identities of other suspects would only be revealed when the suspects would be charged in court.