The Attorney general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has said that embattled former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison Madueke will not be permitted to return back to Nigeria to face corruption charges.The AGF stated that Diezani is currently facing charges of Money laundering in the UK and that it was important for her to face the charges there than to come back as a mere witness to a case here in Nigeria. Madueke had filed a suit to be joined to a corruption case levelled against her associates so that she will be able to testify and defend herself in a Nigerian court.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Malami said;

“The truth of the matter is that the government is doing something especially on issues of corruption and litigation in Nigeria and outside the country.

Considering the fact that there is an existing understanding between Nigeria and other countries especially the United Kingdom on the recovery of stolen funds, you cannot say government is not doing anything.

If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that.

As things are now, there is no need for that since the UK government is already investigating her and government will not take any decision that will jeopardise what the UK government is doing.

The issue is not about fair hearing now, we are talking about investigation first and it is not within Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke’s power to ask the federal government to bring her to testify in any case in Nigeria.”

Some quarters believe that the former petroleum minister is attempting to escape being convicted abroad due to their strict justice system unlike that of Nigeria that has a poor record of incarcerating high profile individuals.

Punchng

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