Ibrahim
Magu, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on
Monday reaffirmed the determination of the commission to extradite former
Petroleum Minister, Deziani Alison-Madueke.
Mr Magu
said at a news conference in Abuja that the commission could not “wait
endlessly’’ to prosecute the former minister on several allegations of
impropriety against her while in office.
Mrs
Alison-Madueke has been in the United Kingdom since the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) administration ended in 2015.
Acting
Spokesman of EFCC, Tony Orilade, had told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on
Sunday that the process for the extradition of Mrs Alison-Madueke from UK had
commenced.
He said
Operations Department of the commission briefed the Legal Department to
commence the process through office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
“It is
ongoing; within the next few weeks, the extent to which we have gone will be
made known to the public.
“It is not
a fresh case; it is not a fresh petition that is just being looked into; the
whole process is a total package.
“This
extradition is just an aspect of Deziani’s investigation and commencement of
trial,” he said.
Mr Magu
said, “We know she is not being tried there; we are tired of waiting, that is
why if they cannot prosecute her, we can prosecute her here.
“There is
no prosecution going on there. We are involved in the investigation in this
country and outside the country.
“We have
worked together; we had started together. We cannot wait endlessly; in three
years and above, it is sufficient, and that is why I said, let’s initiate the
extradition so that she faces the law.”
On why he
is still functioning in acting capacity, Mr Magu said: “I think if people are
in a hurry to get confirmed, it means you are not working; you are not doing
what is required.
“If you
are busy lobbying for confirmation, you will not be fair and balance in the
discharge of your duties.
“I am not
worried that I am still not confirmed since three years as substantive chairman
of the commission. Everybody is aware that I am working here.
“Just get
the work done.”
The Senate
had twice, rejected the confirmation of Mr Magu as substantive chairman of the
anti-graft agency.
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