Diezani Alison-Madueke Testifies as 'Rubber Stamp' Minister

Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, testified on Wednesday, October 18, at Southwark Crown Court in London, asserting that her role was largely that of a "rubber stamp" minister with limited direct control over oil contract awards. She explained that decisions in the oil sector involved multiple agencies and were primarily managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its directors.

During her tenure, she claimed to have rejected only two percent of contracts and faced political backlash for canceling a contract linked to businessman Igho Sanomi. Alison-Madueke also addressed the controversy surrounding $20 billion in oil revenue, stating that her actions were misrepresented and politically motivated.

She revealed that her efforts to reform the subsidy system led to threats against her family, including the kidnapping of her sister in 2013. Additionally, she acknowledged using a U.S. credit card issued by Nigerian banks for official travel, which sometimes faced logistical challenges.