Political Briefs
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DIEZANI Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum, is embattled of many fronts. Alison-Madueke, who is being investigated by the National Crime Agency, NCA, of Britain for money laundering and corruption-related offences is also fighting against breast cancer for which she has been receiving treatment in London.
In a statement released on Thursday, October 8, by Oscar Onwudiwe, a lawyer, on behalf of her family, said Alison-Madueke was not arrested as reported in the media. The statement similarly denied allegations of money laundering and bribery levelled against her.
It said the former minister who was in London to receive treatment for cancer that started while she was in office and which recently became worse. Onwudiwe said the former minister was only invited along with four others by the NCA on Friday October 2, but she denied being questioned over allegations of fraud. Besides, the statement said her international passport was not seized as claimed by the media.
“She completed months of chemotherapy just last week and is scheduled to undergo surgery next week in London,” the statement read.
Consequently the statement appealed to Nigerians to pray for her recovery so she could respond to the allegations of corruption and bribery against her.
“The family has been bearing this challenge with prayers and as much grace and fortitude as possible; and would plead with all reasonable Nigerians to pray for her recovery so that she can face this allegation and give account of her stewardship. Yes, she can and very well, too.”
The family also denied the reports that she was being investigated for trying to buy a £13 million property in posh Hyde Park Street, London.
Further, the statement denied reports that Beatrice Agama, the former minister’s mother, as well as Ogonna Madueke, her stepson, owned houses in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The statement said the family would deal appropriately with those it claimed were bent on tarnishing its name.
On Monday, the Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Marylebone Road, London, granted an application by the NCA for the seizure of 27,000 pounds from her and five thousand pounds from 81-year-old Beatrice Agama.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, also raided and sealed her Abuja residence soon after she was arrested on Friday.
— Oct 19, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT
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