×

Seek ICC Arrest Warrant For Alison-Madueke – SERAP Writes Buhari

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently obtain a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court following … Continue reading Seek ICC Arrest Warrant For Alison-Madueke – SERAP Writes Buhari


EFCC Seeks Diezani’s Extradition, Court Adjourns Arraignment Till May
(File) Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke

Diezani Allison-Madueke, EFCC, Court, Diverted Funds,

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently obtain a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court following allegations of corruption against Alison-Madueke considered as crimes against humanity.

A statement signed by its Deputy Director Timothy Adewale, mandates the Buhari led administration to “seek from the International Criminal Court an arrest warrant to bring Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke before the court on allegations of corruption against her, which the government should consider as crimes against humanity and serious enough for it to sanction her prosecution before the court.”

SERAP’s request followed growing allegations of corruption against Mrs Alison-Madueke and the recent disclosure by the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had recovered about half a trillion naira from her. Several court orders have also seized millions of dollars from bank accounts and forfeiture of several houses both in Nigeria and abroad linked to her.

Several court orders have also seized millions of dollars from bank accounts and forfeiture of several houses both in Nigeria and abroad linked to her.

The statement read in part: “SERAP believes that as important as it is, the recovery of alleged stolen public funds from Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is far from adequate to redress the crimes against humanity that have been committed against Nigerians. The allegations of corruption clearly suggest the exploitation of Nigeria’s natural resources to the detriment of its people and are serious enough to meet the requirements of crimes against humanity, thus bringing her within the jurisdiction of the ICC.

“Pursuing this case before the ICC would also help to deter grand corruption and its devastating effects on Nigeria and contribute to the development of case-law in the field of corruption and citizens’ socio-economic rights, and ultimately advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation, and guarantee of non-repetition. Such bold initiative would also improve public confidence in the fight against corruption.

“We also urge your government should urgently propose legislation that would characterize the kind of corruption allegedly committed by Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke as a crime against humanity within our national laws, and thus allow Nigerian courts to directly hear those cases.”

Furthermore, the organisation attributed the level of poverty faced by some Nigerians to the failure of successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999, to effectively address the fight against corruption.

“Primarily because of grand corruption under successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999, millions of Nigerians continue to live in extreme poverty, a condition manifested by the lack of clean water, malnutrition, high rates of child mortality and morbidity, low life expectancy, illiteracy, perception of hopelessness and social exclusion.

“Such basic necessities are those resources needed for individuals to maintain their physical and mental integrity. The resources may be material resources, services or access opportunities. SERAP believes that depriving individuals of basic necessities may cause physical or mental sufferings, material losses, physical or mental injury, or death,” the statement read.