The Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Donald Chidi Amamgbo, said to be a
cousin to a former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Premium
Times can authoritatively report.
Mr.
Amamgbo, who is chief executive of Mezcor Oil and Gas limited, Tridax Oil and
Gas Limited, Lynear Energy Limited and Bulk Strategic Reserved Limited, was
arrested in Lagos at about 4.20 P.M Thursday.
Investigators
told Premium Times that evidence gathered so far suggested the oil mogul might
have acted as front for Mrs Alison-Madueke, who granted him approval to lo lift
Nigerian crude oil without any requisite experience.
“Through
his companies, Amamgbo lifted crude oil and gas worth billions of dollars over
a period of four years,” an official said.
“A
search conducted in the office and premises of Mezcor Oil and Gas Limited at
No. 5 Sannar street, Wuse 2, Abuja yielded documents which included payments
for the purchase of houses and vehicles.”
Sources
at the anti-graft agency said the investigation was continuing.
When
contacted, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said, “I am told
there is something like that but I don’t have the details.”
The
former minister’s husband was earlier arrested and released on February 18 as
part of the investigations into her stewardship at the oil industry.
Mrs.
Alison-Madueke herself was arrested on October 2, 2015 in London by the UK
National Crimes Agency for alleged overseas corruption and money laundering.
After
former Vice President Goodluck Jonathan became acting president, Mrs.
Alison-Madueke was appointed Nigeria’s first female petroleum minister in
February 2010, a position she held till May 29, 2015 when Mr. Jonathan left
office.
Mrs.
Alison-Madueke’s tenure as petroleum minister turned out one of Nigeria’s most
controversial, amid unending allegations of corruption.
Under
her watch, dubious oil marketers stole trillions of naira of oil subsidy money.
She retained her position after the House of Representative investigated the
scandal and indicted the minister.
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