BRITAIN has promised to return all Nigeria's looted funds from any convicted public servant who is found guilty of corruption by a UK court of law in the light of the recent arrest of former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.

 Earlier this month, Ms Alison-Madueke was arrested at her west London home by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and taken to Charing Cross Police Station, where she was questioned. She was later released on bail to appear in court where an injunction was obtained to confiscate a sum of £27,000 from her and her international passport was seized.

 Yesterday, Grant Shapps, Britain's minister for Africa, promised that once the legal process has been concluded, all Nigerian looted funds that enter Britain would be recovered. Speaking at the inauguration of a £100m programme on public sector and good governance in Kaduna, Mr Shapps said Britain would also help Nigeria improve her security and prosperity.

 He said the incidence of corruption in Nigeria directly affects Britain, adding that as a result, the UK would provide Nigeria with the expertise to tackle corruption. He added that the UK shares and support President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to rooting corruption out.

 Mr Shapps said: “Nigeria matters to the UK, so the UK is fully committed to helping Nigeria increase its security, stability and prosperity. Tackling corruption is imperative to that and we share and support President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to rooting it out. 

“We will continue to provide capacity building and technical and investigative support to Nigeria to tackle corruption and we are scaling up this support. We have an opportunity now to develop a comprehensive partnership across these areas.”

 In April 2012, former Delta State governor Chief James Ibori was sentenced to a 13-year jail term at Southwark Crown Court in London after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering. A confiscation hearing is due to take place to determine how the property seized from him will be sold and given back to Delta State but legal wranglings have delayed the process.

 It is expected that Ms Alison-Madueke will face a similar process with the prospect of her UK properties being confiscated as the proceeds of crime. She is expected to face formal charges later on in the year when investigations are completed by the NCA.