This was revealed to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) by US officials who also said that Washington was investigating whether the former minister’s associates laundered money in the US, the UK and other countries.
The United States of America is
reportedly considering the implementation of a visa ban or financial
sanctions against former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The
proposed measures are also expected to affect a dozen others including
some of Alison-Madueke’s associates, oil officials and politicians.
This was revealed to the Wall Street Journal
(WSJ) by US officials who also said that Washington was investigating
whether the former minister’s associates laundered money in the US, the
UK and other countries.
“We continue to work with Nigeria to fight corruption,” a State Department official said according to WSJ.
Mrs
Alison Madueke has been the centre of international attention since
October 2, 2015, when her London home was raided by police.
Police officers in Nigeria also barricaded her home in Abuja hours after the London operation began.
Unconfirmed
reports have it that the former oil minister is being suspected of
laundering a whopping £13 billion from the country’s coffers.
Oscar Onwudiwe,
a lawyer speaking on Alison-Madueke’s behalf, however told WSJ that she
was invited by the police in London but not arrested as widespread
media reports have claimed.
“If the police come to your house for any reason, does it make you a criminal?” Onwudiwe asked.
No official charges have been filed against the former oil minister.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he would head Nigeria’s oil sector as substantive minister in a bid to sanitize it.