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.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to celebrate President Bola Tinubu, saying his leadership saved the country from a potential implosion.
Shettima said Nigeria’s economy had been teetering on the edge of collapse before Tinubu’s intervention, adding that the country could have faced a different situation.
“The economy was teetering on the edge of collapse, we were on a cliff edge,” the Vice President said.
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“So he literally saved the nation from an implosion. That could have been the scenario. So, instead of demonizing him, Nigerians ought to celebrate this poor man.”
Shettima also called for a return to the drawing board, expressing confidence in the leadership’s commitment and the prospects for the 2027 elections.
“I believe on the bottom of my heart that with this presentation I have seen, and with the commitment of our leadership, by the grace of God, we are going to win,” he said.
Speaking about the 2027 elections, the Vice President reminded his audience that social media platforms should not be mistaken for actual polling stations.
“There are no polling stations on Facebook or Instagram,” he said.
Shettima also expressed gratitude for the efforts made towards promoting the cause of the 2027 elections.
Following observed mis-steps, the Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the eight-count criminal charge brought against the alleged fake Director General (DG) of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Biztellers reports that the matter, in accordance with the counsel of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, (SAN), the matter will be filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), instead of the Federal High Court (FHC).
Consequently, upon an unopposed application for termination by the prosecution counsel and Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, struck out the matter.
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In a motion for the termination of the charges, Oyedepo informed the court that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has carried out a review of the case file of Adeyemi and the charge filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and found some loopholes.
The DPPF added that the documents allegedly forged by Adeyemi during his operations of the fake agency are those that can be prosecuted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He also informed the court that a new charge has been filed at the High Court of the FCT and that Adeyemi would be expeditiously arraigned afresh.
He therefore urged the judge to strike out the charge as required by law.
Following no objections from Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), who stood in for Adeyemi, Justice Umar subsequently terminated the charge.
Adeniyi, 38, was being tried alongside two others whose whereabouts are unknown, on charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
The two others said to be at large were identified as Femi (surname unknown) and Anu (surname unknown).
The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2025, was entered against the defendant by the DPPF.
To secure a bright energy for her teeming population, Nigeria must sustain the momentum of reform, accelerate investment, and deepen partnerships.
This view was expressed by Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Limited (SNEPCo) Ronald Adams in Lagos at the weekend.
Delivering a keynote address at the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Adams called for regulatory certainty through efficient execution of reforms, sustained investment appeal to enable projects to move more swiftly from opportunity to production and partnership by operators, regulators, NNPC Limited and communities to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s resources.
Adams cited Nigeria’s huge oil and gas resources as an advantage but pointed out: “Resources alone do not guarantee prosperity. Prosperity comes when resources are matched with investment, technology, sound policy and disciplined execution. Success will be determined not by the size of our resources, but by our ability to convert them into investment and economic growth.”
Adams pledged the support of Shell towards a bright energy future of Nigerians. He said: “For more than six decades, Shell has been part of Nigeria’s energy journey. Together with our partners, we have helped develop major energy infrastructure, supported Nigerian businesses, invested in talent, and contributed to economic development. Bonga remains a powerful example of what technology, partnership and Nigerian capability can achieve in deepwater operations. Today, that story continues through Bonga North.”
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Issuing a clarion call for action by all stakeholders, he added: “The world is not standing still. Capital is moving, technology is advancing and competition is intensifying. The countries that attract investment tomorrow are those that improve competitiveness today. Nigeria has begun that journey. Our task is to sustain the momentum and translate reform into projects, projects into growth, and growth into shared prosperity.”
The conference, the 4th in the series had at its theme; “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market” and was attended by top government officials, industry captains, energy professionals, and students.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the guest of honour. SNEPCo was a principal sponsor of the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) and mounted a well-received exhibition on its deepwater operations and social investments across Nigeria.
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