By Jennifer Y Omiloli
Former Nigerian Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke was arrested in Dubai for allegations of fraud and corruption, the government confirms.
Mr. Adoke, who traveled to Dubai for medical attention, was arrested for alleged involvement in oil scams, fraud and money laundering by the International Police (Interpol).
Mr. Adoke’s lawyer applied for Interpol’s letter of attestation to release him from the Nigerian Ministry of Justice. Instead, however, the Nigerian government sent charges against the former minister to Interpol.
The chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, announced that the arrest was the latest achievement in the federal government’s fight against corruption.
The charges brought to the international police include fraud and money laundering on the Malabu Oil Block; conflict of interest on the Malabu Oil Block; and participation in the Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) $9.6-billion judgment award against Nigeria.
Mr. Adoke will also explain the $2,267,400 in cash paid to a Bureau De Change operator in Malabu Oil. He also faces criminal charges of abuse of office and money laundering in connection with Shell and ENI being granted the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria had earlier obtained a warrant from a high court in Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory.
