NEWS
Diezani Claims She Was NNPC’s Rubber Stamp Before London Court
The trial of former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, continued on Day 18 at the Southwark Crown Court, where she mounted an extensive defence of her tenure, insisting she had limited direct control over oil contract awards and describing herself as largely a “rubber stamp” operating within a highly layered bureaucracy.
She told the court that contract decisions in the oil sector were processed through multiple agencies before reaching her desk, arguing that by the time files were presented to the minister, “the choice had been made.”
According to her, operational authority rested mainly with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), while the ministry performed an oversight function.
Diezani said the size and complexity of Nigeria’s petroleum industry made direct ministerial control impossible, stating that the sector involved thousands of employees, hundreds of oil fields, multiple pipelines and depots, and several parastatals operating under different reporting structures.
“It was not a one-man state,” she told the court.
She maintained that she personally rejected only about one to two per cent of contracts during her tenure, adding that interference with already-approved transactions was rare and often politically sensitive.
Diezani also told the court that in 2014 she uncovered an alleged crude oil lifting arrangement involving multiple companies, which she said was allegedly linked to businessman Igho Sanomi.
She said she moved to cancel the contracts after a whistle-blower alert but faced strong political backlash, including direct complaints to then President Goodluck Jonathan.
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Diezani also revisited the widely reported $20 billion oil revenue controversy, linked to claims raised by former central bank governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, telling the court that the matter had been misrepresented in public discourse.
She said what was initially described as “missing money” was later reviewed through audits and parliamentary scrutiny, which clarified that a significant portion related to subsidy payments and operational expenditures.
She insisted that she was unfairly associated with allegations of theft, describing the media fallout as politically driven and damaging to her reputation.
Diezani further told the court that subsidy investigations later revealed misuse within the system, including “round-tripping” practices where marketers allegedly submitted multiple claims for payment.
She said she escalated concerns to anti-corruption agencies and restructured aspects of the downstream sector, which she said led to a sharp reduction in subsidy claims but also triggered threats against her.
In an emotional moment, Diezani told the court that resistance to her reforms exposed her and her family to serious danger.
She revealed that her younger sister was kidnapped in 2013 and held for two weeks, while her nephew was also abducted in a separate incident.
She broke down in tears while describing how her son required military protection to attend school due to security threats.
The former minister also told the court that political and business figures frequently pressured her office for favours in oil allocations and financial matters, citing a letter from businessman and politician Ifeanyi Ubah as an example of such lobbying.
She said she rejected all such requests.
On her personal finances, Diezani acknowledged using credit cards issued by Nigerian banks, including Zenith Bank and UBA, and confirmed that some transactions were made abroad during official travels.
She told the court that Nigerian ministers were barred from maintaining foreign accounts, which sometimes created logistical challenges during overseas assignments.
She also admitted that, on a few occasions, her cards were declined abroad, which she said led to arrangements for third parties to cover expenses in some situations.
The court was shown travel records, diplomatic correspondence, and passport stamps covering her international movements between 2011 and 2015.
Diezani said she typically travelled with an entourage of about 30 staff members, including technical assistants and protocol officers, and insisted that all official movements were documented in ministry diaries later archived by government authorities.
She also addressed the use of private jets and chartered flights, saying such arrangements were common for government officials within Nigeria, while commercial flights were also frequently used for international travel.
Diezani maintained that her tenure was defined by efforts to open up the petroleum sector to indigenous participation and improve transparency, citing reforms aimed at expanding opportunities for Nigerian companies under the country’s local content framework.
The trial is still ongoing.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of being “held hostage by fraudsters” following the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency’s response to the scandal exposed what he described as a deep institutional crisis within the Federal Government.
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According to him, the government’s explanation that a private individual allegedly forged presidential documents, impersonated senior government officials, established an office inside the Federal Secretariat, opened bank accounts using government identities, and engaged foreign diplomats without insider support is difficult to believe.
He argued that rather than clearing the air, the Presidency’s defence had raised even more questions about the integrity of government institutions.
Atiku also questioned reports that about ₦1.3 billion was appropriated for the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite claims by the Presidency that the agency never officially existed.
The former vice president challenged the government to explain how an allegedly non-existent agency found its way into the national budget, asking which ministries, officials, National Assembly committees, and lawmakers processed and approved the allocation before it was signed into law.
He further criticised the National Assembly for failing to detect the alleged anomaly during the budget process and questioned the role of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing anti-graft agencies of selective enforcement.
Atiku maintained that regardless of whether the incident was the work of a sophisticated fraud syndicate or the result of institutional failure, the government must accept responsibility for allowing such a situation to occur.
While acknowledging that the individual at the centre of the controversy may face prosecution, he insisted that the Presidency must also account for the institutional lapses that allegedly enabled the activities.
Calling for an independent investigation, Atiku urged authorities to follow the evidence without political interference, insisting that no individual or institution should be shielded from scrutiny.
He added that the alleged fake agency saga has become another test of accountability and transparency in the Tinubu administration, urging Nigerians to demand answers from those entrusted with managing public institutions.
The Federal Government has announced that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will replace its iconic khaki uniform with locally produced Adire fabric as part of a sweeping reform aimed at repositioning the scheme and promoting indigenous industries.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed the development during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday.
According to the minister, the adoption of Adire is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s textile industry by ensuring government spending supports local manufacturers.
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“It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have the textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Olawande said.
The minister also revealed that the ongoing restructuring of the NYSC would see corps members posted based on their academic qualifications and professional backgrounds.
Under the new arrangement, graduates with education-related qualifications will be deployed to schools, while others will be assigned to sectors that align with their areas of study to improve productivity and national development.
Addressing security concerns, Olawande said the Federal Government is considering posting prospective corps members to regions where they studied or are familiar with, particularly in areas facing security challenges.
He noted that the move would reduce concerns among parents and corps members while making deployments more practical.
He further dismissed reports suggesting the military would be removed from the NYSC, describing such claims as a misconception.
According to him, while the scheme’s operational leadership will become civilian-led, the military will continue to play a key role in providing security and supporting the orientation programme.
The reforms follow the Federal Executive Council’s approval of a comprehensive overhaul of the 53-year-old NYSC scheme.
As part of the process, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Youth Development have been directed to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to facilitate the implementation of the reforms.
The Federal Government said the changes are designed to transform the NYSC into a skills-oriented, productivity-driven and youth empowerment institution that supports its vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
Nigeria has secured a fresh $1.25 billion financing package from the World Bank to support ongoing economic reforms, boost private sector investment and create more jobs across the country.
The funding was approved under the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (NAIJA) programme and forms part of the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria, which will run from 2026 to 2032.
According to the World Bank, the financing is designed to help Nigeria remove barriers to private investment, improve the business environment and lay the foundation for faster, more inclusive economic growth.
The programme will support reforms across critical sectors, including the capital market, digital economy, power sector, agriculture, trade liberalisation under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as domestic revenue mobilisation.
The global financial institution said the initiative is expected to expand electricity access to about 32 million Nigerians, provide broadband connectivity for 58 million people, improve health and nutrition services for 40 million citizens, and support approximately 9.5 million farmers.
The World Bank added that its six-year Country Partnership Framework is focused on mobilising private capital, strengthening economic resilience and creating productive jobs while supporting investments in infrastructure, digital connectivity, human capital and agricultural productivity.
Speaking on the approval, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the framework builds on Nigeria’s recent macroeconomic reforms, which have contributed to stronger economic growth, improved public revenues and renewed investor confidence.
He stressed that sustaining the reform agenda would be crucial to unlocking the country’s full economic potential and creating more opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
The latest financing package is expected to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to accelerate economic reforms, attract investment and promote long-term, private sector-led growth.
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