The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday stormed  the residence of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and arrested her for connection with ongoing investigation of alleged corrupt practices.

NigerianEye gathered that the EFCC and NCA had been collaborating on investigation of some scandals in the nation’s oil sector during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to investigation, EFCC operatives were drafted to the posh residence of the ex-Minister at about 5pm on Friday.

The Spokesman for the UK High Commission in Abuja, Joe Abuku, confirmed to that five persons were arrested by the agency.

He, however, did not disclose their identities.

It was gathered that the Seizure Organised Crime Agency within the National Crimes Agency of the UK arrested Deziani and are probing the allegations against her.

It was further learnt that Deziani was picked up by operatives of the SOCA at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which has been discretely probing her.

NigerianEye gathered that the SOCA has a working agreement with the EFCC in the area of investigation of allegations of financial crimes and proceeds of such crimes.

A source said, “It is true that the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani has been arrested by the UK’s National Crimes Agency, not the Metropolitan Police.

“There is an agency within the National Crimes Agency called the Seizures Organised Crimes Agency. She was actually arrested by operatives of SOCA because the agency has a working agreement with the EFCC. We have been cooperating with SOCA on a number issues.

“I can tell you that Deziani is being quizzed over allegations of bribery and fraud by the UK police.”

Investigations further revealed that the EFCC dispatched a team of crack investigators to the residence of Allison-Maduekwe’s resident at Frederick Chiluba Avenue, Asokoro, moments after the commission was alerted that the investigation had commenced from the UK’s end.

A family relation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest of Allison-Maduekwe to our correspondent on Friday.

NE could not get the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, to comment on the issue as the repeated calls to his mobile telephone line indicated that it was either switched off or in an area outside network coverage.

The former petroleum resources minister’s arrest came two days after President Muhammadu Buhari announced himself as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum.

He had vowed to recover all looted funds worth several millions of dollars that were allegedly stolen in the petroleum ministry under the watch of Alison-Madueke, who had become an object of attacks from Nigerians over scandals that rocked the ministry during the former administration.

For instance, in June 2008, Alison-Madueke was subjected to a Senate probe after it emerged that as Transport Minister, she had paid N30.9bn ($263m) to contractors between December 26 and 31, 2007. She is said to be worth over N1bn.

However, she has never been officially charged or tried for these allegations and has strongly denied any wrongdoing. She was alleged to have spent billions of dollars inappropriately on private jets and responsible for some $20bn, reportedly missing.

She is also widely accused of reckless spending of government funds. When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said, “I have no comment or information on it. It is a security matter.”

Meanwhile, EFCC operatives also stormed the home of Jide Omokore, one of her business allies while she was the oil minister.

Omokore owns SPOG and Atlantic Energy and is said to be involved in multi-billion dollar oil deals, including kerosene scam that denied Nigeria’s treasury by over $6bn.

It was reported that Omokore’s 9 Turnbull Street home in Ikoyi, Lagos and his Glover Street, Ikoyi office were raided by the EFCC operatives.

It was, however, learnt that the former minister was granted bail hours after she was detained by the ICU.

A report by Channels TV said that the London Police confirmed that she had been charged to court for money laundering and she’s expected to appear at the Charing Cross Police Station for questioning on Monday.