Sources confirm that Nigerian authorities have arrested a former minister who had been in hiding for months, in a joint operation with the UK's National Crime Agency. The arrest, carried out at a property in Abuja, marks a significant breakthrough in a long-running investigation into embezzlement and money laundering. The former minister, whose name is being withheld pending charges, is alleged to have siphoned off millions of dollars in public funds through a network of shell companies.
The UK anti-corruption unit, which provided intelligence and operational support, hailed the arrest as a 'landmark moment' in cross-border efforts to tackle graft. Documents uncovered by investigators show a paper trail stretching from Lagos to London, with properties and bank accounts frozen in both countries. The suspect is expected to be arraigned within 48 hours.
Unanswered questions remain about the scale of the network and whether other politicians are implicated.
