Lawyer Explains Why Extraditing Diezani May Not Work

A lawyer and former national secretary of Labour Party, Mr Kayode Ajulo, has explained why the extradition of Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke may be difficult.

Diezani, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, is being investigated over corruption allegations and is currently in the United Kingdom.

Ajulo, who appeared on Channels Television’s politic programme on Tuesday, doubted if the demand for the extradition of the former minister would yield any meaningful result.

He explained that she is facing a trial in a London court, although she is on bail and as such, bringing her back to the country might be impossible at the moment.

“Since the inception of this administration you can see that Diezani is in London and in London was arrested and was brought before the court of law in which she was granted bail and the matter is still going on,” he said.

“For anybody to continue to protest that she must be brought back to Nigeria, then there are some question marks in that. It would have been different if today Diezani is somewhere and nobody is touching her.

“And even the case in London, you’ll find out that even the Nigerian authority has sent most of the documents used to prosecute her and you’ll find out that the Nigerian government is even assisting those in London to ensure the adequate prosecution.

“Mind you, she is on bail now and the bail, I’m sure will not permit her to come to Nigeria,” the lawyer noted.

File photo: Diezani Alison-Madueke

The former Labour Party chieftain asked Nigerians to be patient and wait until Diezani’s prosecution in London is being concluded.

He said those demanding her extradition cannot expect her trial in London to be aborted, stressing that the protest was not the best step to take for now.

“For you to see some people now raising an issue on that, protesting that she must be brought to Nigeria, then that leaves a question mark. The question mark is for what purpose?

“I would have wanted a situation that those who are raising this issue should wait until after the criminal procedure in London is over. Then if she’s brought back to Nigeria, then if anybody wants to ask for her trial that would have been better.

“Why I’m saying that is this, we cannot continue to protest against what is happening there (in London) because by asking that she should come back to Nigeria, are we going to say that the criminal procedure against her should be aborted?

“That will make us a laughing stuff and that is why I believe what is being done particularly in asking the EFCC to bring her back to Nigeria may not work and I don’t think it is a misplaced priority,” he said.