Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has told a United Kingdom court that her role in approving oil contracts during her time in office was largely procedural, insisting that major decisions were made before documents reached her desk.
Testifying before the Southwark Crown Court in London, Alison-Madueke said the structure of Nigeria’s oil industry limited her direct influence, with operational authority largely exercised by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
“The system was already in motion before files came to me,” she said, adding that the scale and complexity of the petroleum sector made direct ministerial oversight difficult.
She acknowledged that she rarely rejected contract approvals, explaining that recommendations typically underwent extensive technical and regulatory reviews before arriving at her office.
“I was, in many instances, a rubber stamp in the process,” she stated.
The former minister also recounted a 2014 incident involving a crude oil lifting arrangement allegedly linked to businessman Igho Sanomi. She said the deal was uncovered through a whistleblower report and that she initiated steps to cancel it, but faced resistance from powerful interests, with complaints reportedly escalated to then President Goodluck Jonathan.
Addressing allegations of missing oil revenues, Alison-Madueke rejected claims made by former Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi that $20 billion was unaccounted for.
“There were no missing funds as widely reported,” she said, attributing the figures to subsidy payments and operational costs based on subsequent audits and legislative reviews.
On fuel subsidy payments, she admitted that her tenure uncovered widespread abuse, including multiple claims by some marketers. She noted that reforms were introduced to reduce fraudulent payouts.
Alison-Madueke told the court that her efforts came with personal risks, alleging she faced security threats, including the abduction of family members, which she linked to her attempts to challenge entrenched interests in the sector.
“I declined requests that did not follow due process,” she said, adding that her office often faced pressure from political and business figures seeking preferential treatment.
Responding to questions about her finances, she said she relied on Nigerian-issued bank cards for transactions, including during official trips abroad, in line with regulations prohibiting public officials from operating foreign accounts. She added that there were occasions when others temporarily covered expenses when the cards failed overseas.
The court also reviewed records of her official travels between 2011 and 2015. Alison-Madueke said she typically travelled with an entourage of about 30 officials, including aides, security personnel, and protocol officers, noting that all movements were properly documented.
Despite the allegations, she maintained that her tenure focused on expanding local participation in the oil sector and improving transparency, insisting she has been unfairly portrayed.
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside Olatimbo Ayinde and Doye Agama on a five-count charge bordering on bribery. All defendants have pleaded not guilty, with proceedings ongoing.
