Political News
Ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani Breaks Silence, Denies Stealing From Nigeria
August 14, 2017 – Diezani Breaks Silence, Accuses EFCC Of Bias “I Never Stole A Dime From Nigeria’s Oil Money”
Ex-Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, has broken her long silence on several allegations of financial impropriety levelled against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and said she never stole Nigeria’s money.
Mrs. Madueke, in a statement issued yesterday, a copy of which was made available to Daily Sun, said she decided to respond to the allegations because the EFCC was taking advantage of her silence to try and convict her in the media.
The EFCC had alleged that the former minister, by an order of a Federal High Court has forfeited $153.3 million to the Federal Government.
In her reaction, Mrs. Madueke denied ever owning such money and said she was never notified of formal charges, if truly there was a prima facie evidence or indictment against her regarding the said issue.
“I wish to state I cannot forfeit what was never mine. I do not know the basis on which the EFCC has chosen to say that I am the owner of these funds as no evidence was provided to me before the order was obtained, and they have not, in fact, served me with the order or any evidence since they obtained it.
“Let me re-state categorically as I have always maintained, for the record, I have not and will never steal money from or defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria. I am willing to respond to charges brought against me that follow duly laid down procedures,” she said.
She challenged the anti-graft agency to also publish details of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC’s) accounts from where the said $153.3 million was taken, with proof that she authorised such a transaction/transactions, acting either in her private capacity or as a minister, since the EFCC alleged that the said $153.3 million was ‘wired’ from NNPC.
She also debunked the report that Italian prosecutors indicted her for sharing in the loot of the $1.3 billion OPL 245 oil block deal, which involved Malabu and the Joint Venture Multinational partners, ENI (AGIP) and Royal Dutch.
“Let me once again state for the record that this is another figment of the author’s imagination, which, given the persistent bid to ensure my destruction and stick all of the sins of the corruption that plagued oil and gas sector in the last 30 years upon my head, probably emanated from the EFCC itself.”
“Let me clear the history of OPL 245, otherwise known as Malabu. You will find a full chronology in the attached report that I made to the House of Representatives in late 2011 (Annex 2A/Annex-2B). In 2010, shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the issue of OPL 245 was brought to my attention. I looked into the case and immediately became aware of the inherent and long standing sensitivities around this issue.
It became clear from the onset that this case was not within the direct purview of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, but, in the main, was centered around issues of law. By this time, there was already an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Dispute (ICSID) investigation and claims against the FGN running into billions of dollars. Therefore, we took directives from the Chief Legal Officer of the nation; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
In all of these matters due process was followed to the letter at all times. I wish to categorically state that I have never held any discussions on this matter, with any individuals or entities outside of official channels. As Minister of Petroleum Resources, I did not participate in any activity relating to financial payments on the Malabu matter, other than those statutorily mandated to the Minister of Petroleum Resources by the Petroleum Act. My role in this matter was purely a statutory, one as required by law in the Petroleum Act 3,” she explained.
She responded to several other allegations of financial malfeasance against her, saying it was sad and distressing that in spite of all she did for the country, she was still being faced with constant demonisation, unproven accusations and deep personal insults.
“In response, I have chosen not to insult, accuse or demonise any person or persons. In spite of all the allegations that have been made against me, not one has been factually proven. I remain very proud of the fact that all the policies, tenets and plans that I initiated in the oil and gas sector are still underpinning the entire structure. This is because they were put in place with the good of the entire nation and its people in mind. They were not factional or tribal, neither were they based on religious bias.
“I am a woman from the Niger Delta, who, through perseverance and sheer hard work rose to one of the highest positions in the country’s premier International Oil Company, and in tune with my ethos of hard work, I earned the prestigious British Foreign and Commonwealth Chevening Scholarship Award and was, thereafter, admitted to my MBA programme at the World renowned Cambridge University,” she said.
[Daily Sun]
mimia
August 15, 2017 at 1:57 AM
who knows though well as for I dont trust men anymore!
Mon
August 15, 2017 at 2:06 AM
Oya,let the drama begin……we are waiting for counter attack from EFCC and others, this is the season.
Two years for accusation and announcing recovered loot,sharing them at the same time if ever it’s true, another 2years for election campaign and demolition job, then tell me when they will have time to address the real problem facing Nigeria masses.
If all the figures we have heard for the past 2yrs were actually stolen and recovered,we need account of them to convince us with immediate effect.
I
August 15, 2017 at 2:06 AM
Shut up you thief! I don’t blame you. Nigeria is a country where no one is held accountable for crime, otherwise you would be cooling your freaking ass in jail right now. You guys cleaned the country out and are enjoying your loot outside Nigeria. God will judge you all. No matter how long you live and enjoy the money, you will not wake up one day and then you will begin your journey to that place where judgement will take place and neither money nor nepotism would matter when justice is served. Idiot! So your “cancer” has mysteriously disappeared now you have realized you may not end up in jail abi? Remember sha that by your mouth confession is made so let it be unto you as you have confessed. Wicked, heartless idiots.
Endurance
August 15, 2017 at 5:11 AM
Who can we blame for this?the government of course! The EFCC ‘s has shown in all ramification that it power is limited and the so called government is a figure head that are only chasing after the wind of our corrupt government officials without any notable steps taking to bring them to justice. Unfortunately the government powerlessness and reticent to repatriate Diezani Alizon Madueke has bought her enough time and has emboldened her all the more to carefully piled up some piece of points to counter the alligation leveled against her. And the consequence of inaction by the Government is also leaving Nigerians with greater skepticism regarding any information of alligation published by the EFCC against any government individuals accused of financial impropriety. When you have a well classified
Information regarding alligation against a certain politician,then what stops you from bringing such individual to stand trial?
Jilo
August 15, 2017 at 4:55 PM
How can she be brought to justice when she refuse to come to Nigeria to defend herself. She is hiding in UK and prefer to seek asylum there should Nigeria government try to extradite her. She is confident her extradition will take forever that is why she is vomiting rubbish.
If you are innocent as you claimed why cant you come back to defend yourself? This lady is a big thief. She claimed she never stole a dime from Nigeria purse, do you believe that?. History will never forgives you for your major role in ruining this Country.
Endurance
August 15, 2017 at 7:12 PM
Her extradition is as easy as A,B,C. Should Nigerian government is willing to extradite Alison Madueke from London. Their is an international law enforcement corporation that is central to the effective investigation and prosecution of corrupt offences internationally. Nigeria government can use the united nation convention against corruption and work with the UK government so as to extradite this woman to Nigeria to face her monumental charges of corruption leveled against her. If the alligation of corruption leveled against Diezani Alison Madueke is truly credible enough,why not take advantage of the United Nation Treaty against corruption to ensure she’s brought back on our soil to answer for her error? Waiting for her to come back to nigeria is like saying what the woman did to our national treasury is not big enough to warrant her prosecution. This inaction from Nigerian federal government against this woman is beginning to have many wondered if APC-led government is not witch-hunting the government officials of previous administration. Let the Nigerian Government tell us why they have all the while remained powerless to extradite this suspected corrupt criminal when their is an existing international law against corruption that can be taking advantage of, so as to bring her to stand trial on our soil.
Lola O
August 15, 2017 at 3:28 PM
So she stole “on behalf” of Nigeria, if not from Nigeria. Madam, return home and defend yourself – the innocent don’t run. It was from hard work and hard earned money your step children were acting crazing and spraying dollars at parties like manner falling from heaven? God punish your generations with incurable diseases, for all the affliction and death you brought upon innocent citizens of our country, amen.
EGBERRI MAMA 1
August 15, 2017 at 5:26 PM
STOP INSULTING D LADY !!!! WHERE IS UR EVIDENCE ???WHEREIS D MORE CORRUPT GOVT EVIDENCE??? WHERE IS DMOST CORRUPT EFCC EVIDENCE ??? CIVILISED COUNTRIES DEAL WITH FACTS AND EVIDENCE ! DO YOU PEOPLE THINK U CAN CONVINCE ND FOOL ALL NIGERIANS AT ONCE ???. NIGERIA IS SO SO CORRUPT WITH ALOT OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN SAME CAMP OR TRAIN WITH YOU . ALL JONATHAN,S DISCIPLES ARE TAGGED SUPER-CORRUPT AND ALL BUHARI DISCIPLES ARE D SUPER-SAINTS KWO ????????WE HEAR UNA. MAYBE THEY TAUGHT DIEZANIE WILL DIE AND NOT COME TO DEFEND HERSELF . ALL THESE BAYELSANS SEF, SEE HOW D WORLD IS ACCUSING YOU ALL FOR A NATIONAL CAKE YOU SHARED TO OTHERS AND FORGOT UR OWN PEOPLE AND PLACE . MAYBE SENATOR COMMONSENSE ” BEN MURRAY BRUCE WOULD HV BEEN MORE CALCULATIVE BCOS D BROS TOO GET COMMON SENSE !!!! DIEZANIE DIEZANIE DIEZANIE EVERY TIME, WHO STOLE DAT MONEY FROM RIVERS STATE ND BURRIED IN OSBORNE IKOYI ????? UNA NEVER STILL MENTION D PERSON ? NA DIEZANIE STILL THIEF DAT ONE ??? APC– ASSOCIATION OF PAST ND PRESENT CRIMINALS !
Abdul Samson Aji
August 16, 2017 at 8:47 AM
Court ordered the forfeiture – true or false?