Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum under the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, has reacted to the report of her granting an interview in London recently where she allegedly indicted the current Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal.
The ex-minister has said the report is “fake” and “concocted.”
Alison-Madueke was said to have spoken with journalists in London, during which she begged to be allowed to return home. Parts of the interview were shared by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), on its Instagram handle, alongside the photo of Mrs Alison-Madueke and Mr Lawal.
The interview said Alison-Madueke “expressed her readiness to disclose details of the funds she allegedly misappropriated while in office.”
She was also quoted as saying, “I am now a born-again Christian and currently grappling with the second stage of cancer, for which my United Kingdom-based physician has advised me to continue medication for the rest of my life. Yes, no one is flawless, but sometimes, God Almighty permits such occurrences.
“I’ve been accused of financial misconduct during my tenure as the petroleum minister, and it’s true. However, I would like President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians to forgive me, allow me to return home, and contribute because life is transient…”
Mrs Alison-Madueke has been away from Nigeria since 2015. She currently in the United Kingdom (UK) and faces corruption charges in Nigeria and the UK.
Also Read: UK court adjourns hearing on Diezani Alison-Madueke’s case to 2025
Reacting to the accusations, the ex-minister told Premium Times on Saturday evening, “I did not grant an interview to anyone and therefore did not say any of the things attributed to me. It is fake news concocted for reasons I do not know.”
