Former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has said the
$153.3million allegedly forfeited by her to the Nigerian Government is a
hoax, a bogus lies aimed at tarnishing her reputation.
Mrs. Madueke who is currently recuperating at a London Hospital where she
is undergoing treatment for cancer challenged the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, to publish the account details linking where the
$153.3million was found.
The former Petroleum Minister said no one has contacted her in regards to
the $153.3million allegedly found in her account, yet her name has been
linked as the owner of the said huge sums
Below is Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s response:
DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE REFUTES EFCC $153.3 MILLION CLAIM AND RESPONDS TO
OTHER ALLEGATIONS
I have up till now chosen to maintain my silence and not to respond to
inaccurate press reporting. However, given the level of deliberate
inaccuracies, I am now forced to respond because it is clear that the EFCC
is taking advantage of my silence to try me by media and to convict me in
the eyes of the public on false reports.
THE $153.3MILLION ALLEGATION
I am deeply disturbed and bewildered by recent media reports (Premium
Times Thursday 12 January, 2017 and other dailies about the same time)
claiming that by virtue of an order of the Federal High Court, I have
forfeited to the Federal Government, the sum of $153.3m which I
purportedly stole from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
First and foremost, whilst the reasons for my being out of the country are
public knowledge, the principle of fair hearing demands that I should have
been notified of formal charges if truly there was a prima facie evidence
or indictment against my person linking me with the said issue, so as to
ensure that I had adequate legal representation. This was never done.
I wish to state that I cannot forfeit what was never mine. I do not know
the basis on which the EFCC have 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. As at the time of my writing this
rebuttal (Thursday 19th January, 2017) the EFCC have still not furnished
me or my Lawyers, with a copy of the order.
I am also informed by my lawyers that the legislation under which the EFCC
obtained this order is for situations where the funds are believed to be
the proceeds of crime and the owner is not known. I do not therefore,
understand how the EFCC can in the same breath say that the monies in
question are mine. If they had evidence that the monies were mine then
they would not /should not, have used the procedure which applies only to
funds of unknown ownership. If indeed they used this particular legal
procedure because they did not know who owned the monies, then how can
they now be falsely attributing the ownership to me(Annex-1A).
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 any charges brought
against me that follow duly laid down procedures. However, in their
typical manner and style, the EFCC have gone to the media to attempt to
prosecute their case as trial by TV and other media, rather than go
through the onerous but tried and tested means of the Judicial Court
process.
In the face of the obvious falsification of facts and misinformation, it
is only right and proper that the EFCC should publish the details of the
$153.3M lodgements, the bank account numbers and the account
beneficiaries, showing proof of my link to them. Having also alleged that
the said $153.3M was ‘wired’ from NNPC, the EFCC should also publish
details of the NNPC accounts from where the said $153.3 million was taken
from, with proof that I authorized such a transaction/transactions acting
either in my private capacity or, as The Honourable Minister of Petroleum.
Let me state for the record that as Minister of Petroleum, the operation
and management of NNPC finances were outside my purview as outlined in
both the Petroleum Act and the NNPC Act. The only involvement I had in
NNPC Finances was in terms of statutory matters, where the Petroleum Act
prescribed that as Minister, there were certain duties or actions which I
had to perform or take in relation to NNPC.
(See Petroleum Act – https://www.google.co.uk/
MALABU
With regards to the various news reports published in both the online and
print media, insidiously inferring that I was indicted by Italian
prosecutors for, as they put it, ‘ sharing in the Loot’ of the $1.3bn OPL
245 oil block deal that involved Malabu and the Joint Venture
Multinational partners, ENI(AGIP) and Royal Dutch Shell. 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 plagued Oil and Gas Sector of over
the last 30years upon my head, probably emanated from the EFCC itself!
Let me clarify the position re 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 ICSID(International Centre for Settlement of
Investment Disputes) 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 a purely statutory one as
required by Law in the Petroleum Act
(https://www.google.co.uk/url?
(http://www.nigeria-law.org/
THE ALJAZEERA REPORT – $18MILLION MANSION
On the 13th of June 2016, the EFCC once again took their well-trodden path
to the media. This time claiming that they had ‘discovered’ a mansion in
Asokoro, Abuja, worth $18million (approx. N9billion) which they purported
to belong to me. The EFCC went to the extent of bringing in Aljazeera, an
International TV Station, to air a damaging documentary against me in this
regard, showing a particular residential building in Asokoro, Abuja, which
they told Aljazeera belonged to
me https://www.youtube.com/
Magu, personally took the Aljazeera reporter to the building, alleging
that it belonged to me. It has since become apparent that the house
belongs to a company owned by Mr Kola Aluko.
If this is not a witch hunt or a personal vendetta against me, how is it
that one of our Country’s premier investigative agencies were unable to
avail themselves of facts that are freely available in the public domain.
Since the EFCC claims that the alleged $18million Asokoro property belongs
to me, then they should kindly produce the ‘Authentic’ Certificate of
Occupancy and Land Registry information and any other relevant
information, as proof of my ownership of the property.
FAMILY HOME – YENEGOA, BAYELSA STATE
On the 9th November 2016, the EFCC visited our Family home in Yenegoa
(Bayelsa State) as pre-agreed and they were escorted around the premises.
I was therefore completely shocked to once again see my name sensationally
splashed across the Front Pages of Newspapers and widely circulated on the
internet, with blaring Headlines such as “EFCC UNCOVERS DIEZANI’S
MULTI-BILLION NAIRA ESTATE” – Nation Newspaper, January 8, 2017 (Annex-
4A). There was absolutely nothing ‘Hidden’ or ‘Concealed’ about the home.
I HAD DECLARED IT OPENLY as required by Law, in my Asset declaration forms
(Annex-4B). Yet the EFCC have announced that they ‘Just Discovered’ my
‘Hidden Estate’! And labelled it a ‘Multi-Billion Naira Estate’! Even
though they had been given the Bill of Quantities, showing actual amount
spent.
It is accepted Tradition across the length and breadth of Nigeria, for
people to own Country/Village homes. Given the size of the land and the
location of the compound, the buildings thereon cannot by any stretch of
the imagination be a “Multi-Billion Naira” palatial estate, as the news
mongers would want to portray.
The EFCC were taken on a tour of the compound which consisted of A Main
house, and two outhouses – An Obi (meeting bungalow) and a staff
quarters(BQ) building – above which we built 3 guest rooms and a parlour.
The only other 2 structures are the gate and generator houses.
Construction began in late 2011 and was handled in phases. During the
visit the EFCC was given the bill of quantities, which up until the time
construction stopped in early 2015, due to my illness, was at
approximately N394million which was declared in the code of conduct
documentation, attached (the costs were partially funded by a loan – see
code of conduct – Annex4B, the work is still uncompleted and the
contractor is still being owed). Building costs escalated as a result of
delays in construction and external factors such as the extreme flooding
of late 2012, that covered most of our areas in the Niger Delta.
It is the accepted norm when building in the Niger Delta, that due to the
topography of the land and the heavily waterlogged and marshy terrain,
construction is infinitely more expensive than in other parts of the
Country, as by its nature it requires the building of extensive
piling/raft foundations before any structural work can commence. The
flooding of 2012 compounded the problem and further increased the cost of
construction.
$700 Million Cash Found In My House
Stories were circulated by unscrupulous agents of calumny that the EFCC
found a mind boggling $700million in cash in my home in Abuja. Would the
videos of this $700 million cash discovery not have made good viewing? Or
should those who recovered this money not tell the public where exactly
the money has been kept? Perhaps the Central bank should corroborate that
it is in custody of these monies allegedly found in my house? But then, it
is now patently apparent that Nigerians are no longer easily led to
believe fables and sensational untruths.
REALITY VERSUS FICTION
I would like to state for the record that I performed my duty as Minister
of Petroleum Resources with the utmost sincerity and sense of
responsibility, ensuring that all Nigerians irrespective of creed, gender
or tribe enjoyed their rightful benefits from the Oil and Gas Sector.
$5.6 Billion LNG Dividend Fund
It is pertinent to note that at the end of my tenure, I left behind in the
LNG dividend fund, for the incoming Administration, the sum of
$5.6billion(five billion six hundred million US Dollars)(Annex-6A). I did
this to ensure continuity in the crucial gas sector development which
underpins the entire Power and Energy Sector and which was and still is,
absolutely imperative for the Country’s current and future economic
development.
Local Content
Having pushed for the full implementation of the Nigerian Local Content
Act, despite resistance from various stakeholders, I actively promoted the
benefits of ‘Nigerians Right to First Consideration’ in both the
downstream and upstream sectors. The immediate effect of my actions was
that for the first time in history, thousands of Nigerians were able to
break through the barriers of a sector that had hitherto been the preserve
of a few powerful groups with vested interest, and thereby earn a living.
This remains a source of pride to me, that not only did it create wealth
across the entire economic value chain but it also ensured the
unparalleled transfers of knowledge and expertise for our indigenous
operators. It is noteworthy that the template is being adapted for use in
other countries.
Fuel Scarcity
It is on record, that I immediately took the issue of incessant fuel
queues head-on and in my time as petroleum minister, Nigerians rarely
experienced fuel shortages. These queues had long dominated our landscape,
causing untold hardship to millions of ordinary Nigerians stuck in fuel
queues for hours; like the bus driver who was unable to earn enough to go
to the market, and the market woman who, therefore, earned less and so
could not afford school fees. This example, though at the most basic
level, caused a chain reaction which was replicated in various facets
throughout the economy. So, on the macro economic level, the main benefit
of ending the fuel queues was an immediate increase in GDP, reduction in
inflation and easier facilitation and movement of people, goods and
services, across the country.
The continuing effect of all these measures were that even in the most
remote locations, Nigerians could buy and sell petroleum products.
Gas Supply & Infrastructure
As soon as I assumed office, I put into play my wealth of experience in
the oil and gas sector, knowing that gas was imperative for our future
growth and prosperity. I put together a team to look at all aspects of
growing Nigeria’s Gas with the intent of turning Nigeria into a Premier
Gas Exploring and Producing Country, even more than an oil producing
country. We started working on Gas for Industry – The commercialisation
approach, Gas for home use – LPG, and Gas for Power generation. We even
sponsored a pilot scheme for Gas to power vehicles. I implemented a short,
medium and long term project to put in place sustainable gas supply to
underpin the power sector and began laying the requisite infrastructure
that was virtually non-existent when we took office. We worked with NERC
and the CBN to put in place the necessary fiscal levers, to ensure that
Gas supply would be competitively priced. I left behind a comprehensive
and detailed plan for the rollout of LPG and the Industrialisation of GAS
eg. The Ogidingben project.
Petroleum Industry Bill
I personally worked tirelessly through the night on many occasions, with
the committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill, to finally get it to the
point where for the first time in over 12 years, we could place it before
the Federal Executive Council, and the National Assembly. I championed
this in a bid to create a less corrupt, more transparent, accountable and
responsible NNPC and Oil and Gas Industry as a whole. It was also to
create additional funding inflows for the Nation. This was in spite of the
fact that there was major resistance from powerful interest groups within
and outside Nigeria.
I take personal satisfaction even now, that the PIB template I presented
to the country is still the benchmark for the current and future
development of the Oil Sector in Nigeria. The Template is already being
adapted for use in other countries.
MY POSITION
It is saddening that after eight years of serving my country, my
experience as a public servant has been fraught with continuous malicious
castigation and character assassination, all in the name of ‘personal
vendettas’ or political horse trading. It has become apparent to many that
these untruths told were at best well-crafted fables. The most dramatic
and damning accusation was the infamous missing $49.8 Billion Dollars,
that went from to $12 Billion and then up to $20 Billion and which was
alleged missing from NNPC. Today, we all know that the PWC report that was
published cleared me of any wrong doing and no one up till now has been
able to controvert the PWC report nor has anyone found the “missing” 20
billion, or who took it. In addition, the Makarfi-led committee in the
Senate of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, in a series of publicly-held
hearings, also vindicated me on the matter of the purportedly missing
funds. Yet, we are all silent as if these events never occurred! SEE
ATTACHMENT-1 THAT
EXPLAINS MY POSITION ON THE ‘MISSING’ $20 BILLION.
The allegations that I have addressed above are no different, the
character assassination continues, this time with a new set of hirelings.
One of the basic tenets of the human trait is that we all have
shortcomings and we all make our fair share of mistakes, whether we are in
positions of Leadership, or not. However, one error that cannot be
ascribed to me is STEALING FROM NIGERIA & DEFRAUDING MY COUNTRY! It is
therefore sad and distressing that in spite of all that I tried to do in
the best interest of our Nation, I continue to be faced with constant
demonisation, unproven accusations and deeply personal insults.
In response I have chosen not to insult, accuse or demonism anyone, 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 & 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 & Commonwealth Chevening Scholarship Award
and was thereafter admitted to my MBA program at the World renowned
Cambridge University. In 2006, I was appointed as the first female
executive director in the history of Shell Petroleum, Nigeria. Just over a
year later, I was nominated and appointed as a minister of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, culminating in my appointment as Nigeria’s first
female Minister of Petroleum, where again by dint of hard work I was
appointed as the first female in history(in a completely male dominated
space) to hold the Presidency of OPEC.
I can therefore, NO LONGER SIT BACK and allow the fabricated accusations
against my person designed by unscrupulous persons with a vengeful agenda
go unchallenged.
As a Christian, it is my sincerely held belief that in the coming months,
history will be the judge of exactly who Lied and who told the Truth. By
the Grace of God, I shall be here to see the day when truth prevails.
The fight against corruption in Nigeria will be far better served if the
EFCC focus on incontrovertible facts, as opposed to media sensationalism
and completely distorted stories, in their bid to demonise and destroy a
few specially chosen Nigerians.