The United States has considered ways to punish former petroleum resources minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was recently arrested in London over money laundering allegations done through British and U.S. banks.
Although the former petroleum minister was later released on bail pending investigation, a report by Wall Street Journal has revealed that the US is considering some measures to deal her. It was revealed that there might be visa ban and financial ban on the former minister, her allies, some other politicians and oil officials.
Although both the State Department and the U.K.’s National Crime Agency did not publicize their findings, a State Department official said: “We continue to work with Nigeria to fight corruption. The real issue is the signaling effect: that holding public office in Nigeria should not be a license to plunder,” said Bismarck Rewane, managing director of Lagos research firm Financial Derivatives Co. “It’s working. The number of bribes I’m being asked for has dropped.”
Nigerians have also expressed their excitement over the arrest of the embattled former petroleum minister, stating that it has been long overdue.
