Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has alleged that a former minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is wanted in Nigeria for corruption charges, is receiving protection from foreign bodies.
Mr Magu said this on Wednesday during an official visit to the Ibadan zonal office of the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency had in the last five years been on the trail of the former minister over alleged corrupt practices.
Magu said he suspected sabotage on the part of some foreign countries over Mrs Alison-Madueke’s case.
“They have not taken her to court and this is the fifth year. Why should you be investigating a case for five years? It is a straight case and not a murder case which takes longer processes,” he said.
“You know it is a financial crime investigation. It is a straight forward case. If you don’t have sufficient evidence to take her to court, bring her back. We have more than enough evidence to take her to court.
“I don’t know why they are protecting her. Release her and let her come back to Nigeria. They are giving her protection for reasons best known to them.
“They have yet to declare any evidence recovered against her. They are still relying on our evidence.”
The EFCC boss said the whistleblower policy was still very active and operational, blaming the slow pace of its implementation on court processes.
Magu said the agency was collaborating with all stakeholders, including the media, in its fight against corruption.
On the recent raid of an Ibadan nightclub by EFCC operatives, he said there was nothing wrong in it.
According to him, the commission is evolving ways of rehabilitating them and bringing them back to society.
“We go against fraudsters who made their money illegally, and we only do that when we have actionable intelligence,” he said.
