Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has told a UK court that she had limited control over oil contract approvals during her time in office, describing her role as largely supervisory.
According to ThisDay, Alison-Madueke made the disclosure while testifying at the Southwark Crown Court, explaining that most contract decisions were concluded before reaching her desk.
She said the petroleum sector’s operational authority was primarily handled by the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, while the ministry she headed played an oversight role.
Citing the scale and complexity of the industry, the former minister described herself as a “rubber stamp” in the approval chain, noting that she rarely rejected contracts that had already passed through established processes.
Alison-Madueke also told the court that in 2014, she uncovered an alleged crude oil lifting arrangement involving multiple companies, which she said was linked to businessman Igho Sanomi.
She said she attempted to cancel the arrangement after receiving a whistleblower report but faced resistance, including complaints taken to then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
The former minister revisited the $20 billion oil revenue controversy raised by Lamido Sanusi, stating that subsequent audits and legislative reviews clarified that the figures related to subsidy payments and operational costs, not missing funds.
She maintained that she had been unfairly portrayed in the media as being involved in financial misconduct.
Alison-Madueke further said investigations during her tenure uncovered abuses in fuel subsidy claims, including multiple submissions by marketers, which she reported to authorities while introducing reforms that reduced the claims.
She told the court that her actions exposed her to security threats, including the abduction of family members, and alleged that political and business figures pressured her office for favours in oil allocations—requests she said she rejected.
On her finances, she said she relied on Nigerian-issued bank cards for transactions, including official trips abroad, noting that public officials were not permitted to operate foreign accounts. She added that there were occasions when her cards failed overseas, requiring others to cover some expenses.
The court also reviewed records of her travels between 2011 and 2015, including official correspondence and passport details. Alison-Madueke said she typically travelled with about 30 staff members and that all official trips were documented in ministry records.
She also addressed the use of chartered flights, saying both private and commercial options were used for official duties.
The former minister added that her tenure focused on boosting local participation in the oil sector and improving transparency.
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside Olatimbo Ayinde and Doye Agama on a five-count charge related to alleged bribery. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
