The British government has quietly opened an extradition review following the arrest of a former Nigerian minister accused of siphoning billions from the country's oil revenues. The minister, whose name has been suppressed by court order pending charges, was discovered hiding in a rented flat in East London after a three-year manhunt.
Sources within the Home Office confirm that a preliminary assessment of the extradition request from Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun. But don't expect this to be swift. The UK's extradition machinery is a labyrinth of legal loopholes, and this case stinks of connections that reach into the City of London's finest institutions.
Documents leaked to this desk show the minister maintained accounts in at least four British banks, moving sums of over £200 million through shell companies registered in the Cayman Islands. His arrest came not because of British diligence, but because a neighbour reported suspicious activity. The Metropolitan Police's economic crime unit was slow to act, as usual.
The minister's defence team has already filed a motion to block extradition on human rights grounds, claiming the Nigerian prison system poses a risk to his safety. It is a tired tactic, one that has worked for others with deeper pockets and better lawyers. But the evidence here is damning. Uncovered records from a leaked EFCC audit show he diverted funds meant for school construction into offshore accounts. Schools that were never built. Children who never learned.
The British government's willingness to proceed will be a test of its commitment to tackling the laundering of dirty money. Past cases suggest it will drag its feet. The UK has long been a haven for corrupt officials from former colonies, a place where stolen wealth is polished into property portfolios and university tuition fees for children.
The Prime Minister has made noises about cracking down on economic crime. But words are cheap. This extradition review will reveal whether the UK is serious or just performing concern. If the minister walks free, or if the review drags on for years until the trail goes cold, we will know the answer.
The clock is ticking. And the bodies keep stacking up.
