Fmr Nigerian Oil Minister/Dominica Diplomat, Diezani Alison-Madueke charged with money laundering

Former Nigerian Oil Minister/former Dominican Diplomat, Diezani Alison-Madueke has been charged with money laundering, according to that country’s financial crimes agency on Wednesday. The charges were read in a Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria.
 
Alison-Madueke received Dominican citizenship on May 29, 2015. She was described as “at large” on the charge sheet, since she is living in the UK. The former minister’s movement has been restricted to the UK, and she remains under investigation.
 
Reports allege the ex-Minister was appointed Dominica Trade & Investment Commissioner, & given a diplomatic passport number DP0000445. After she was arrested, several media reports alleged that she was attempting to flee to Dominica because of her citizenship. However, the government of Dominica said there was no truth to the “rumor” and added that all ties with Alison-Madueke were severed in October, 2015.
 
Government further stated that she was appointed Trade & Investment Commissioner for Dominica after “due diligence.” Alison-Madueke is among many former Dominican diplomats who found themselves in trouble with the law.
 
A statement by her country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission indicated that she was accused of bribing members of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), before the 2015 national election.
 
One charge stated that Alison-Madueke and officials “conspired among yourselves to directly take possession of 264.9 million naira ($867,813)” on or about March 27, 2015, contrary to money laundering laws. She was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK on October 10, 2015, for alleged bribery, corruption and money laundering.