The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has quizzed an ally of former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Mudueke, Jide Omokore.
Alison-Mudueke was arrested by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) last week and has since been charged with money laundering and bribery. The former minister is also facing graft allegations..
Omokore, co-chairman of local oil firm, Atlantic Energy, was invited for questioning over corruption and money laundering charges on Monday and was subsequently released..
An EFCC source said he was merely questioned over an ongoing investigation in connection with a crackdown on corruption in the oil sector that has swept up Alison-Maduekeand members of her family in London.
The financial crimes unit has reportedly sealed one of her houses in Abuja as part of the probe, security sources said.
“He is being interrogated,” a security official, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters. He gave no further details.
Atlantic Energy was one of two firms that signed so-called Strategic Alliance Agreements with NNPC’s upstream arm, NPDC, in May 2011 to manage oil blocks sold by oil major, Royal Dutch Shell.
The deals, which at the time had a combined value of $6.6 billion was a subject of criticism as it was alleged that it was subject to no bidding process.
Nigeria’s oil sector has been under the spotlight since the arrest of former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Alison-Madueke, in London on Friday.
She was arrested by the National Crime Agency and has been charged with money laundering.
During her time, the then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, alleged misappropriation of $20 billion oil money.
Omokore is believed to be one of the biggest allies of the former Petroleum Minister.
Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to trace and recover “mind boggling” sums that have been stolen from the oil sector.
He also promised to prosecute those behind the theft.
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