Culled from Punch;
There were strong indications on Wednesday that Switzerland
might extradite a Nigerian oil baron, Kola Aluko, to the United Kingdom.
might extradite a Nigerian oil baron, Kola Aluko, to the United Kingdom.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, in an
electronic mail to one of our correspondents, confirmed that the UK had sought
for mutual legal assistance from its country.
electronic mail to one of our correspondents, confirmed that the UK had sought
for mutual legal assistance from its country.
In an e-mail sent to it, the office of the AGF of
Switzerland was asked if it had received extradition request from the UK on the
businessman.
Switzerland was asked if it had received extradition request from the UK on the
businessman.
It was also asked to specify the time the extradition
process would begin and when he would be extradited.
process would begin and when he would be extradited.
In his response, Nathalie Guth of the Office of the Attorney
General of Switzerland, stated, “I refer to your request of today and we can
confirm that the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has
received a request for mutual legal assistance from England in this context.”
General of Switzerland, stated, “I refer to your request of today and we can
confirm that the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has
received a request for mutual legal assistance from England in this context.”
He declined to give further information on the request.
But The Punch learnt that “the mutual legal assistance” could
lead to eventual extradition of Aluko to the UK in connection with the
investigation of former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
lead to eventual extradition of Aluko to the UK in connection with the
investigation of former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
When contacted on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the UK
High Commission in Abuja, Joe Abuku,
said the official that could give information on Aluko’s extradition was out of
town and could not be reached on the telephone.
High Commission in Abuja, Joe Abuku,
said the official that could give information on Aluko’s extradition was out of
town and could not be reached on the telephone.
“I can’t give any information on the extradition issue
because the official that would brief me is out of town and cannot be reached
on the phone, but I will try and get him tomorrow (today),” he said.
because the official that would brief me is out of town and cannot be reached
on the phone, but I will try and get him tomorrow (today),” he said.
One of our correspondents also sent a mail requesting
information on the extradition to the Home Office email, but it had not been
responded to as of the time of this report.
information on the extradition to the Home Office email, but it had not been
responded to as of the time of this report.
A top security official in the United Kingdom told The Punch that the probe of Aluko may lead to his deportation to the United Kingdom.
He said, “There are srong links between the former oil
minister and Aluko. Extradition is not out of question.”
minister and Aluko. Extradition is not out of question.”
Aluko is an associate of Alison-Madueke, who was arrested in
the UK last week for alleged bribery and money laundering.
the UK last week for alleged bribery and money laundering.
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