EFCC Arrests Businessman "Working" For Diezani Maduekwe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Donald Chidi Amamgbo, said to be a cousin to the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Mr. Amamgbo, who is chief executive of Mezcor Oil and Gas limited, Tridax Oil and Gas Limited, Lynear Energy Ltd and Bulk Strategic Reserved Ltd, was arrested in Lagos at about 4.20pm on Thursday.


Only man running four different companies, all in the oil and gas sector? The details...

Investigators told Premium Times that evidence gathered so far has shown that the oil mogul might have acted as front for Mrs Alison-Madueke, who granted him approval to lo lift Nigerian crude oil without any requisite experience.

An official revealed that, “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.”

Sources at the anti-graft agency said the investigation is a big one and it's still going on.

Recall that the former minister’s husband was earlier arrested and released 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.

Alison-Madueke’s tenure as petroleum minister turned out one of Nigeria’s most controversial, amid unending allegations of corruption.

Under her watch, dubious oil marketers stole trillions of naira through oil subsidy. She retained her position even after the House of Reps investigated the scandal and indicted her.

Probes by independent audit firms, including the KPMG and Pricewaterahousecoopers, confirmed billions of dollars of oil money were missing, the most notable being $20 billion in 2014.

Some serious cleansing and recovery of looted funds need to be done.