The President of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, has reportedly been arrested in the United Kingdom.
According to Premium Times, Mrs. Allison-Madueke was arrested alongside 4 others by British law enforcement.
Her arrest is said to be in connection with crimes of corruption and bribery being investigated by the UK National Crime Agency.
British officials in London as well as the British High Commission in Nigeria confirmed the arrests, but refused to disclose the identity of the arrested persons.
“This morning, five people between the ages of 21 and 60 were arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences. The crimes are being investigated by the National Crime Agency,” a statement by the Press and Public Affairs Officer for the commission, Joseph Abuku, read.
“The National Crime Agency does not confirm identity at arrest nor provide information that could be used to corroborate the identity of an arrested individual.”
President Muhammad Buhari had previously stated that all those who illegally profited from Nigeria’s oil sector would be prosecuted, and it is yet unclear if this has anything to do with the arrest of the former Petroleum minister.
