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The former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison Madueke has denied all corruption allegations leveled against her by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). The former Minister, who stated that she never stole Nigeria's money, accused the EFCC of exploiting her silence to crucify her on the pages of newspaper. Her response was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

According to her “I wish to state I cannot forfeit what was never mine. “I do not know the basis on which the EFCC has chosen to say that I am the owner of these funds as no evidence was provided to me before the order was obtained, and they have not, in fact, served me with the order or any evidence since they obtained it.”


“Let me re-state categorically as I have always maintained, for the record, I have not and will never steal money from or defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria. I am willing to respond to charges brought against me that follow duly laid down procedures,” she said.


Diezani challenged the EFCC to publish details of NNPC account from where the alleged funds were stolen. She also denied reports that an Italian prosecutor had indicted her for benefiting from the $1.3 billion Malabu oil deal involving OPL 245.


“Let me clear the history of OPL 245, otherwise known as Malabu. You will find a full chronology in the attached report that I made to the House of Representatives in late 2011 (Annex 2A/Annex-2B). In 2010, shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the issue of OPL 245 was brought to my attention. I looked into the case and immediately became aware of the inherent and long standing sensitivities around this issue."


“It became clear from the onset that this case was not within the direct purview of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, but, in the main, was centered around issues of law.By this time, there was already an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Dispute (ICSID) investigation and claims against the FGN running into billions of dollars Therefore, we took directives from the Chief Legal Officer of the nation; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. In all of these matters due process was followed to the letter at all times"


“I wish to categorically state that I have never held any discussions on this matter, with any individuals or entities outside of official channels. As Minister of Petroleum Resources, I did not participate in any activity relating to financial payments on the Malabu matter, other than those statutorily mandated to the Minister of Petroleum Resources by the Petroleum Act. My role in this matter was purely a statutory, one as required by law in the Petroleum Act 3".

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