The lawyers of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, have come out to deny allegations of corruption and looting leveled against their client. In a statement, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, described the allegations as “a cocktail of lies” and “outrightly false” narratives.

According to Ozekhome, the recent attempt to link Diezani to a yacht, Galactica, which was forfeited to the US government and sold for $52.8m, is a clear example of the “mischievous and cruel sport of tarnishing the image of the lady.” He stated that Diezani was never involved in the purchase, use, or sale of the yacht, and that it was purchased by Mr. Kola Aluko.

Ozekhome also debunked the claim that Diezani was involved in the corrupt award of Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) between the NNPC and Atlantic Energy companies. He stated that the contracts were validly entered into between the companies and the NNPC, and that Diezani was not involved in the contract process or negotiations.

Furthermore, Ozekhome emphasized that Diezani never sold off oil blocks contained in the SAAs, and that she never gave such a directive or approval. He also highlighted the various false allegations that have been leveled against Diezani in the past, including the claim that she owned a diamond-studded bikini underwear valued at $12,000,000, which was denied by the EFCC.

Diezani’s lawyers also noted that she was named in a criminal charge without any linkage whatsoever, and that she was forced to apply to be joined as a defendant to clear her name. However, the application was opposed by the EFCC, leading to the striking out of her name from the charge sheet.

Ozekhome stated that Diezani has always been upright in the discharge of her duties, and that she remains the only Petroleum Minister to have left behind a staggering sum of over $4Billion in the NLNG Account representing Gas Sector Investment Funds.

Diezani’s lawyers also highlighted her achievements, including being the first female Executive Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria, the first female Petroleum Minister in Nigeria’s history, and the first female President of OPEC.

The lawyers pleaded with the public to accord Diezani a fair hearing and allow the UK court proceedings to take their natural course without interference. They also urged those who have been spreading false allegations against Diezani to desist from doing so and allow the law to take its course.

It’s worth noting that Diezani has been under investigation for nearly 10 years, and was recently charged to court in the UK on October 2, 2023. She has been depending on the goodwill of friends and family members for her survival, as she has not been permitted to work or leave the UK since 2015.