The plans by the Federal Government to commence extradition process that would see Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Petroleum Minister, returning to Nigeria to stand trial for alleged corruption may not be easy to accomplish, say lawyers who spoke with Daily Independent on Tuesday.

According to them, Diezani’s extradition will largely depend on the decisions of UK courts in respect of the matter, not merely because Nigeria has made known its intention as such.

Dr. Simeon Igbinedion, a lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, said although corruption is an extraditable offence under the extradition treaty that exists between Nigeria and the UK, so much will depend on whether or not UK courts rule in favour of the move.

Igbinedion, however, expressed doubts as to government’s sincerity in the matter, saying it rings like a political act ahead of the election to impress the electorate.

“On the insinuation that the Federal Government is making plans to extradite Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke back to Nigeria to stand trial for corruption, I do not see any conflict of law issues that should generate, because corruption is an extraditable offence,” he stated.

“But to many the whole thing looks like a political game to score cheap political point.

“I will only take the government seriously, if indeed it has made a formal request to the UK government to that effect.

“I have no idea whether or not the Federal Government has made any such formal request to the UK government for Diezani’s extradition.

“You must also appreciate that extradition is a matter of both law and politics. So it is one thing for the Nigerian government to make a formal extradition request to the UK; it is another thing for the UK government to decide on whether or not to act on the request, based on political considerations as well.”

Igbinedion explained that a UK accession to the request will be followed by it applying to a court for endorsement.

Also speaking, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu, President, Committee for the Defence of Democracy (CDHR), confirmed that an extradition treaty does exist between Nigeria and the UK.

Thus, with diligence on the part of government, the former petroleum minister can be extradited to the country to answer for her alleged crimes.

It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that the process for the extradition of Mrs. Alison-Madueke from the UK has begun.

•Excerpted from a Daily Independent report

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