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.

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.

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.

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.