Diezani Alison-Madueke Distances Herself from $52.5M Repatriated to Nigeria

Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, has publicly denied any connection to the $52.5 million recently repatriated from the United States to Nigeria. From her current residence in the United Kingdom, Alison-Madueke, through her counsel Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN, clarified that the money in question is not hers but belongs to Nigerian oil magnate Kola Aluko.

In a detailed press statement titled “There is no such thing as Diezani Loot,” issued by Ozekhome’s chambers, Alison-Madueke refuted the media narrative linking her to the funds. She emphasized that:

No Involvement: The $52.5 million was derived from the sale of a vessel, the yacht Galactica, which was seized by the U.S. government from Kola Aluko, not from any actions by her. She has never owned, used, or even seen the yacht in question.
False Narrative: The term “Diezani Loot” was a misrepresentation, as she had no part in the issues leading to the forfeiture of the money.
Misinformation: The statement highlighted the ongoing vilification of Alison-Madueke without legal conviction or proof of wrongdoing, describing it as an attempt to “name-and-shame” her through misinformation and false narratives.
Legal Context: The former minister was not involved in awarding the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) to Aluko’s companies, as she was not the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the time.

Alison-Madueke, via her legal team, requested that the public and media allow the legal proceedings in the UK, where she faces charges, to proceed without prejudice. They emphasized the need for fair hearing and urged an end to the character assassination and false narratives, allowing the law to take its course. The statement also criticized the practice of mob-lynching public figures in Nigeria, especially those with technocratic backgrounds, without due process or evidence of malfeasance.