Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former minister of petroleum resources, has been accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of giving Nigerian politicians $115 million to influence the outcomes of the 2015 elections.
The EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, made this statement on Wednesday during a retreat in Lagos for newly appointed INEC resident electoral commissioners.
Adukwu Michael, the head superintendent of the anti-corruption agency, represented Bawa.
From 2010 to 2015, Diezani served in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet as minister of petroleum resources.
She left the country in 2015 before President Jonathan handed power to Muhammadu Buhari.
The former minister was accused of stealing $2.5 billion from the Nigerian government while in office.
Although she has disputed the allegations, the EFCC has begun the extradition procedure.
Diezani’s 18 apartments and six penthouses in the Banana Island Foreshore Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos, were forfeited to the federal government.
Some of the funds that Diezani is suspected of stealing have been recovered, according to the EFCC chairperson’s representative.
He said that the anti-corruption bureau is working on ways to deter people from buying votes.
“The commission’s focus in election management is discouraging the use of money to influence the outcome of the election,” THISDAY quoted him as saying.
“Electoral spending by politicians often leads to voter inducement and vote buying.
“Parties often induce voters with money because they lack proper and realistic policies to convince the electorate to vote them into power.
“Whenever one is induced to sell his vote, he automatically loses moral ground to challenge the corrupt tendencies of those elected.
“In the 2015 discreet investigation, the commission uncovered a grand plan to compromise the 2015 general election through massive cash payments to politicians.
“$115 million was paid out to politicians by former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madukwe, to compromise the election.
“Some of the money was recovered while many culprits are being prosecuted with few convictions recorded. Inter-agency collaboration and information sharing are at the heart of EFCC’s strategy to curb voter inducement.
“The EFCC is complementing the efforts of other stakeholders in educating the electorate on why it is essential for their votes not to be traded.
“We are working with INEC to determine and enforce provisions of the Electoral Act regarding the limit of campaign spending by different categories of office seekers. This is an intelligence-driven exercise.”