Alison-Madueke arraigned, granted bail

A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani Alison-Madueke, has been arraigned alongside four others before a Magistrate Court in the United Kingdom on allegations bothering on international bribery and money laundering.
Alison-Madueke was arraigned after her arrest and those of four others by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency on Friday in her London home.
She was granted bail by the Court.
However, her international passport was seized by the Court.
The UK NCA had earlier on its website said it arrested four persons for “suspected bribery and money laundering offences”.
In a later update, it said: “”NCA’s International Corruption Unit arrests 5 people in London for suspected bribery and money laundering offences.”
The British High Commission in Nigeria told Premium Times: “This morning, five people between the ages of 21 and 60 were arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences. The crimes are being investigated by the National Crimes Agency.
“The National Crime Agency does not confirm identity at arrest nor provide information that could be used to corroborate the identity of an arrested individual.”
The arrest was carried out by the International Corruption Unit of the UK NCA.
The International Corruption Unit investigates bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK and money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates.
The ICU is also saddled with the responsibility to trace and recover the proceeds of international corruption; support foreign law enforcement agencies with international anti-corruption investigations; engage with government and business to reduce the UK’s exposure to the proceeds of corruption; and work with business to support increased compliance with the Bribery Act 2010.
The ICU draws on the specialist support available to it within the NCA and works closely with other UK law enforcement agencies and overseas partners.
In line with the UK anti-corruption plan, the ICU replaces the MPS Proceeds of Corruption Unit and the City of London Police Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit.
Meanwhile in Nigeria, the Economic and FInancial Crimes Commission searched the Abuja home of Alison-Madueke, who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The house was subsequently sealed.