The former Nigerian Petroleum Minister under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and a former president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has made a public plea to the Bola Tinubu-led government for leniency, expressing her willingness to return home and face accountability for alleged financial misconduct during her tenure.
Alison-Madueke, currently residing in the UK, made the appeal through a press statement issued after a medical visit.
She revealed her battle with Stage 2 cancer, acknowledging her past mistakes and seeking forgiveness from both the President and Nigerians.
“Yes, no one is flawless,” her statement read.
“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,” she pleaded.
The former minister further claimed knowledge of the alleged misappropriated funds and expressed readiness to disclose details upon her return.
“I am ready to return and confess everything,” she stated, “including specific information about the funds entrusted to Dauda Lawal Dare, the current governor of Zamfara State.”
Alison-Madueke’s statement threw light on her past association with Governor Dare, alleging that she entrusted him with over $9 billion while he served as Executive Director of First Bank Nigeria PLC.
She said, “My husband and my entire family members including my Nigeria lawyer based in the United Kingdom knew my relationship with Dauda Lawal Dare, the current Zamfara State governor whom I entrusted over $9 billion for safe keeping while he was the Executive Director of the First Bank Nigeria PLC.
“Unfortunately, it has now come to a point that Mr Dauda Lawal is no longer picking my phone calls and even worked in Collaboration with UK police to put me under Surveillance, maybe to claim the money I entrusted to him when I die.”
Alison-Madueke is currently facing legal proceedings in the UK related to separate bribery allegations.
The Westminster Magistrates Court in London adjourned a hearing involving her alleged acceptance of a £100,000 bribe while the UK’s National Crime Agency continues to investigate suspicions of multi-million-pound bribery for oil and gas contracts.
Furthermore, the Nigerian government is actively seeking her extradition.
The EFCC had on October 2, revealed that it had commenced extraditing Alison-Madueke from the United Kingdom back to Nigeria over 13-count charges bordering on money laundering leveled against her by the anti-graft agency.
The Attorney-General of the Federation submitted a warrant of arrest and extradition request to the UK authorities, while the EFCC seeks to bring her back to face 13 counts of money laundering charges.