Nigerian former oil minister 'arrested
Lagos (AFP) - Nigeria's former oil minister has been arrested in
London, the BBC said on Friday quoting unnamed family members, after Britain's
National Crime Agency said it had detained five people over alleged
international corruption.
The
identities and nationalities of those held were not disclosed but the
broadcaster said on its website that relatives of Diezani Alison-Madueke
confirmed she had been arrested in the British capital.
Alison-Madueke
was Nigeria's minister of petroleum resources from 2010 until earlier this year
when Muhammadu Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in presidential polls.
She was
the first woman to hold the post in Nigeria -- Africa's number one crude
producer -- and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC.
Britain's
NCA, which investigates serious and organised crime, said in a statement on its
website that its international corruption unit arrested five people across
London.
The arrests were "part of an investigation into
suspected bribery and money-laundering offences", it added.
No further details were given but Nigerian media
reported that Alison-Madueke was granted bail but had her passport seized and
was ordered to stay at her London address.
The 59-year-old, a close ally of Jonathan whose administration
was dogged by allegations of corruption, has faced accusations of graft in the
past but denied wrong-doing.
Buhari,
who was elected on an anti-corruption ticket, has pledged to crack down on
endemic fraud in government and state-run agencies, in particular in the oil
sector.
He has
said that "mind-boggling" sums have been stolen over the years and
promised to prosecute those responsible.
But he
has also said he would not conduct a witch-hunt against the former
administration.
No one
was immediately available for comment at Nigeria's Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) when contacted by AFP and the government in Abuja said
it had "no information" on the arrests.
Online
and social media reports, however, said the EFCC had sealed Alison-Madueke's
home in the capital, Abuja.
Alison-Madueke
has reportedly been overseas since Buhari came to power on May 29.
Nigerian former oil minister 'arrested
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