As the war against corruption and fraud by the President Buhari-led federal government continues, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly arrested a cousin to a former Petroleum Resources Minister.
Chidi Amamgbo
According to an authoritative report on
Premium Times, Donald Chidi Amamgbo, who is said to be a cousin to the immidiate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It was gathered that Amamgbo, who is the chief executive of Mezcor Oil and Gas limited, Tridax Oil and Gas Limited, Lynear Energy Limited and Bulk Strategic Reserved Limited, was arrested in Lagos at about 4.20 pm Thursday.
Investigators disclosed to the publication that evidence gathered so far, suggested the oil mogul might have acted as front for Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who granted him approval to lift Nigerian crude oil without any requisite experience.
An official said, "Through his companies, Amamgbo lifted crude oil and gas worth billions of dollars over a period of four years. A search conducted in the office and premises of Mezcor Oil and Gas Limited at No. 5 Sannar street, Wuse 2, Abuja yielded documents which included payments for the purchase of houses and vehicles."
Diezani Alison-Madueke during her tenure as Petroleum minister
Sources at the anti-graft agency said the investigation was continuing, and when contacted, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said, "I am told there is something like that but I don’t have the details."
It can be recalled that the former minister’s husband
was earlier arrested and released on February 18 as part of the investigations into her stewardship at the oil industry.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke herself,
was arrested on October 2, 2015 in London by the UK National Crimes Agency for alleged overseas corruption and money laundering.
After former Vice President Goodluck Jonathan became acting president, Mrs. Alison-Madueke was appointed Nigeria’s first female petroleum minister in February 2010, a position she held till May 29, 2015 when Jonathan left office.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s tenure as petroleum minister turned out one of Nigeria’s most controversial, amid unending allegations of corruption.