Nigeria’s ex-justice minister arrested in Dubai over fraud, graft
Thursday November 21 2019
A man in handcuffs. Nigeria’s former Attorney-general Mohammed Adoke has been arrested by Interpol in Dubai over fraud and corruption allegations. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Abuja,
Nigeria’s former Attorney-general and Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke has been arrested in Dubai over fraud and corruption allegations, the government confirms.
Mr. Adoke, who travelled to Dubai for medical attention, was arrested by International Police (Interpol) for alleged involvement in oil scams, fraud and money laundering.
Mr. Adoke’s lawyer filed an application for the letter of attestation from Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice for Interpol to release him. However, the Nigerian government instead forwarded to Interpol charges against the former minister.
Prof. Itse Sagay, the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption re-ported that the arrest is the latest success in the fight against corruption under the federal government.
The charges forwarded to the international police include conspiracy and money laundering on Malabu Oil Block; conflict of interest on Malabu Oil Block; and involvement in the $9.6 bil-lion judgment award against Nigeria by Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID).
Mr. Adoke is also to give clarification on $2,267,400 Malabu Oil cash paid to a Bureau De Change operator. He is also facing criminal charges on abuse of office and money laundering with respect to the granting of the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 to Shell and ENI.
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier obtained a warrant is-sued by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.