EFCC ready to testify against Diezani, prepares for repatriation of $1.6BN

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to testify against a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, as well as Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore in the United States and United Kingdom.

The agency is preparing to repatriate part of the $1.6bn allegedly stolen by Alison-Madueke, Aluko and Omokore.

Recall that TheNewsGuru.com had earlier reported that the former minister was indicted for receiving a bribe in order to award contracts worth $1.5 billion.

It was also gathered that the agency has been sending court testimonies to the US and the UK, as well as sworn affidavits deposed to by key witnesses against the three primary suspects.

Omokore, Aluko and four others are standing trial before a Federal High Court on nine counts of criminal diversion of about $1.6bn alleged to be proceeds of the sale of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

A source at the anti-graft agency told Punch that, “We have sent evidence to the UK and the US on this case. The investigation involves many countries because these guys bought properties on different continents.

“We also update them as the case in court continues to unfold. We will be willing to testify if need be. This was how we assisted the UK in the James Ibori case. We will continue to work together.”

Aluko has continued to elude both local and foreign authorities for over a year and was last seen in Porza-Lugano, Switzerland, in 2016.

Omokore and Aluko were accused of creating two shell companies in the British Virgin Islands — Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria and Atlantic Energy Brass Development — to handle their oil contracts.

They were reportedly given oil contracts by Alison-Madueke, even though their companies did not meet requirements.