The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay, has blamed the United Kingdom for the delay in Diezani’s trial, noting that the country had all the evidence it needed for her prosecution.

He said he could not understand why the British government failed to put her in the dock despite several assurances, adding that the EFCC had supplied the necessary documents for her trial.

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Sagay stated, “I’m aware that the British government gave assurances that they were going to prosecute her; that they have restricted her movement, that they were investigating and once they have enough materials, they would prosecute her.

“I’m also aware that the EFCC has supplied materials to support her prosecution in England. But for some strange reasons which I cannot understand from these developed countries where they are supposed to have the highest standard in the world, and then they behave in a manner that is contrary to their reputation.

“For some strange reasons, they never got to the point of prosecuting her after over five years there. That is why the government here got desperate and decided to make a move instead of waiting. In a way, it is the fault of the British government which has caused the EFCC to relax and wait for her to be investigated and then prosecuted.”

The PACAC chairman further disclosed that a British official informed him that the ex-petroleum minister was restricted from moving out of London as they had placed an electronic device on her, “so she could not even travel out of the country.”

On the orders of the court directing Diezani to appear for trial, Sagay explained that from his knowledge of the law, the person to be prosecuted ought to be within the jurisdiction and should be arraigned, make a plea and be available to defend himself or herself.

He added, “But where the person is a fugitive as is the case of Diezani, what you do is to go the country where she is residing and apply for her to be extradited back to your country where she has committed the offence. I don’t know why the EFCC is not going through that process.”