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Tag: UK’s National Crime Agency

  • Former minister of Nigeria Diezani Alison-Madueke accused of bribery in UK

    Former minister of Nigeria Diezani Alison-Madueke accused of bribery in UK

    Diezani Alison-Madueke, former oil minister of Nigeria, has been accused of bribery in the UK.

    She may have taken money in exchange for signing multi-million dollar oil and gas contracts.

    She played a significant role in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government and was the first woman to lead the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

    The 63-year-old, who has been out on bail since her 2015 arrest in London, has refuted the accusations of wrongdoing.

    The UK’s National Crime Agency has frozen valuable items worth millions of pounds related to the suspected crimes.

    “These charges are a significant step in a comprehensive and complicated global investigation,” explained Andy Kelly, who works in the International Corruption Unit of the NCA.

    The NCA claims that Ms. Alison-Madueke, who was the oil minister from 2010 to 2015, is accused of receiving benefits from:

    At least £100,000 ($127,000) in money
    Chauffeur-driven cars are vehicles that are driven by professional drivers.
    Traveling on airplanes that are owned and used by individuals or companies for their own personal trips.
    . Fancy vacations for families
    . Using multiple properties in London.
    . Furniture, repairs and employees for the buildings.
    . Paying for fees at a non-government school.
    . Presents from fancy stores like Cartier and Louis Vuitton.

    The US Department of Justice has found and taken back $53. 1 million connected to Ms. Alison-Madueke’s believed illegal actions. They were able to do this because of evidence that the NCA gave them in March.

    The NCA said that its agents also worked closely with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the EFCC.

    The EFCC, which is a government agency, said that they found about $153 million and over 80 properties that belonged to a politician who was a member of the cabinet starting in 2007.

    She started as the transport minister, then switched to the ministry of mines before becoming responsible for the oil sector.

    MsAlison-Madueke, who currently lives in a suburb called St. John’s Wood in London, will go to court on 2 October according to the NCA (National Crime Agency).

    Nigeria produces a lot of oil, but not many people in the country have actually gotten richer because of it.

    It is one of the 13 countries that belong to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), which was created to handle the global supply of oil and determine its cost.

  • UK businessman charged with ‘helping Russian oligarch evade sanctions’

    A British businessman has been charged with allegedly helping a Russian oligarch evade US-imposed sanctions.

    Graham Bonham-Carter was arrested on Tuesday accused of funding properties purchased by Oleg Deripaska – one of Russia’s most controversial oligarchs who was sanctioned by the US in 2018.

    Mr Bonham-Carter is also accused of unlawfully moving his artwork abroad, the US Department of Justice said.

    The US is now seeking Mr Bonham-Carter’s extradition, the DoJ said.

    Mr Bonham-Carter, who is based in London and is the second cousin of actress Helena, appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court following the extradition request and was released on conditional bail.

    As well as being sanctioned by the US in 2018, Mr Deripaska was one of seven oligarchs sanctioned by the UK in March as part of the government’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Mr Bonham-Carter is believed to be linked to the oligarch through a number of high-value properties in the US and in the UK – all suspected to be ultimately held for Mr Deripaksa’s benefit.

    In March, Mr Bonham-Carter had his bank accounts frozen for six months under orders were secured by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) after it was alleged his accounts contained money linked to Mr Deripaska.

    Mr Bonham-Carter faces three US charges – conspiring to violate and evade US sanctions in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), one count of violating IEEPA and one count of wire fraud.

    Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

    Mr Bonham-Carter is accused of engaging in more than $1m (£900,000) worth of illicit transactions to fund real estate properties in the US for Mr Deripaska’s benefit.

    It is alleged that the businessman was instructed by Mr Deripaska to set up a company, named GBCM Ltd, for managing his properties, including two in New York and one in Washington DC. Mr Deripaska wealth has been estimated to be more than £2bn.

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