A former Nigerian minister has been arrested after spending months in hiding following a corruption conviction investigators uncovered connections to laundered UK aid money. Sources confirm the suspect was taken into custody in Lagos on Tuesday, ending a manhunt that had embarrassed the government.
The arrest came days after a British parliamentary committee demanded greater oversight of UK aid spending in Nigeria, citing concerns that funds meant for healthcare and education had been diverted into private bank accounts. Uncovered documents show the former minister was a key figure in a network that siphoned millions through shell companies registered in London.
The conviction itself was a landmark. In July, the minister was found guilty of accepting bribes worth over £3 million from a construction firm in exchange for government contracts. But he disappeared before sentencing, triggering an international warrant. His capture now raises questions about who helped him evade justice for three months.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said a source familiar with the investigation. "The minister didn't act alone. There are people in suits in Lagos and London who knew exactly where he was."
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it provided intelligence that led to the arrest. However, campaigners argue this is not enough. They point to a report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact which found that DFID's anti-corruption measures in Nigeria were "inadequate". At least £200 million in UK aid has been unaccounted for since 2015.
MPs on the International Development Committee are now calling for mandatory audits of all UK-funded projects in Nigeria. "Every pound of British taxpayers' money must be accounted for," said the committee's chair. "We cannot afford to let corrupt officials continue to steal from the poor."
The arrest will be seen as a victory for Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, which has faced accusations of selective prosecution. But critics note that the former minister is a member of the opposition party. No allies of the current president have faced similar charges.
The suspect is expected to be remanded in custody ahead of sentencing next week. He faces up to 15 years in prison. But investigators are already looking beyond him. Sources confirm that a separate probe is targeting a senior UK-based accountant believed to have helped launder the stolen aid money.
For now, the streets of Lagos are quiet. But the money trail leads back to London. And as one insider put it: "The suits are starting to sweat."
This is a developing story. More to follow.
