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Nigeria's $20 Billion Question: The Woman Behind the Missing Oil Money

• Brodda Mike • Season 2 • Episode 11

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We dive deep into the rise and fall of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's former Minister of Petroleum Resources whose story transformed from celebrated trailblazer to the face of one of Nigeria's biggest corruption scandals.

• Born in Port Harcourt in 1960, Diezani pursued architecture at Howard University and earned an MBA from Cambridge
• Broke barriers as Shell's first female executive director in Nigeria before entering government service in 2007
• Appointed as Nigeria's Petroleum Resources Minister in 2010 and became OPEC's first female president in 2014
• Faced allegations of $20 billion in missing oil revenue under her watch at NNPC
• Reports emerged of lavish spending including a $50 million New York apartment and $80 million yacht
• Arrested in London in 2015 on suspicion of bribery and corruption
• EFCC seized over 80 properties worth approximately $153 million
• Her recent interview with Chude Jideonwo backfired, seen as an attempt at image rehabilitation without accountability
• International authorities in UK, US and Nigeria continue investigations and asset recovery efforts
• Case highlights systemic weaknesses in Nigeria's governance and the urgent need for transparency reforms

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Speaker 1:

Turn it up. I told you nah, ah, you are worse than me. I know that you are sending me. Welcome to the Butterbox Podcast, where we unpack the stories shaping Nigeria, and I'm your host, barbara Kay, and today we delve into the life and controversies surrounding Desiani Alisin Maduike, nigeria's former Minister of Petroleum Resources. Once hailed as a trailblazer, her name has become synonymous with one of the most significant corruption scandals in Nigeria's history.

Speaker 1:

Desiani Alison Madoke's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Port Harcourt in 1960, she pursued architecture at Howard University and later earned an MBA from the University of Cambridge. Her professional career began at shell petroleum development company, where she broke barriers as the first female executive director in nigeria. In 2007, she entered public service, holding various ministerial positions, including transport, mines and steel that's still development, if you call it and ultimately, petroleum resources in 2010. That is 2010. Her appointment as the first female president of opec in 2014 marked a pinnacle in her career.

Speaker 1:

However, her tenure was marred by allegations of massive corruption, missing $20 billion, and that was in 2014. The then Central Bank Governor, sanusi Lamido Sanusi, alleged that a $20 billion in oil revenue was unaccounted for under her watch at the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation, that is, the NNPC. We cannot even forget her lavish lifestyle. Reports surfaced of extravagant spending, including the purchase of a $50 million New York apartment and even an $80 million yacht, and battles of legal actions piling up coming her way. In 2015, she was arrested in London by the UK's National Crime Agency on suspicion of bribery and corruption. Although released on bail, investigations continued, but the Economic and Financial Crime Commission in Nigeria also charged her with money laundering and secured court orders to seize assets worth millions of dollars. But the Nigerian government, through the EFCC, has recovered significant assets linked to Alice in Maduike and sold many assets. Over 80 properties and all worth around 153 million dollars were seized in January 2023. The EFCC announced plans to auction these assets, but Allison has contested these actions, filing suits to stop the sale and seeking the return of her assets. She argues that her right to a fair hearing was violated and she was not adequately notified of the for future proceedings.

Speaker 1:

Now the scandal has international ramifications because authorities in the uk, us and nigeria have collaborated on investigations. The us department of justice has involved no, they have been involved in asset recovery efforts over the years. Even some even mentioned extradition or extradition efforts. Nigeria has sought Alison Maduike's extradition to face charges at home. But, however, legal complexities and ongoing proceedings in the UK have delayed this process.

Speaker 1:

But Alison Maduike's case highlights systemic issues more like institutional weaknesses. The ease with which such vast sums were allegedly misappropriated points to a significant lapse in oversight and accountability within Nigeria's oil sector. Now the case of public trust. High-profile corruption cases erode public confidence in governance and deter foreign investment, and many people oftentimes have cried out for the need for reform. But the situation underscores the urgent need for transparency, stronger institutions and a robust legal framework to combat corruption. Anyway, malike's story serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked power and the importance of accountability. As Nigeria continues its fight against corruption, it is imperative that justice is served, not just for the sake of retribution, but to restore faith in our constitution, and a lot of people have always clamored for this, always saying they need justice to be served for this, always saying they needed justice to be served.

Speaker 1:

But let's also talk about the issue she has with Chudai, the infamous Chudai interview, the one that shook the internet and reignited the debate over her legacy. In what many saw as an attempted image, cleanse Desani appeared remotely from a sit down with Chudai Jidomo. The optics were carefully curated Calm lighting, warm tones, subtle grays. But what stood out wasn't just her composure, it was her narrative she was trying to spin. The narrative she was trying to spin was what shocked a lot of people. She spoke about being misunderstood, about being a victim of politics, about how the system that once celebrated her turned around to bury her. And while that's not impossible in Nigerian politics, where loyalty is transactional and power is always shifting, the problem was in the lack of accountability, in her words, because she refused to take accountability for what she was accused of. Now they were, there was nothing like any form of remorse, no real acceptance of wrongdoing, just soft deflections and polished storytelling.

Speaker 1:

And nigerians didn't take it lightly. No, no, no, we didn't buy it. Social media lit up immediately with rage, more like questions being asked is this a netflix redemption arc? No, she's painting herself as a saint why billions went missing under her watch. But some feel like this is a pr stunt that maybe just turned into a provocation for Nigerians. Anyway, what made it worse was Chudai's tone. As a journalist and a documentarian, with his history of humanizing public figures, chudai has been respected for drawing out emotional depth. But here, but something changed. Many felt he softballed these questions, not once, but pressing hard on the $153 million mansion of money or properties that was seized by the EFCC, the multi-million dollar asset in the UK or the allegations of money laundering involving former oil marketers and business moguls. It felt scripted, sanitized, safe. And Nigerians aren't stupid. Of course you know that. They know the game. They've seen many fallen officials attempt to rebuild public goodwill through carefully controlled narratives, but what they crave, what they deserve, is the truth, not theatrics.

Speaker 1:

The backlash wasn't just about Desi and it was about what she represented. This wasn't just one woman talking. This was a reminder of how far corruption has dug its claws into the souls of the nation. Now, let's not forget, she was accused of disbossing over $100 million in election slush funds. Over 60 houses linked to her across Nigeria were seized by the EFCC. And yet here she was giving makeup-laced answers with no one clear apology, not even one single apology from what she said.

Speaker 1:

Now let's zoom out, because Desiree Saga is not isolatedisa is not isolated globally. We've seen the pattern before. Yes, it has happened over and over again isabel dos santos in angola, africa's richest woman, accused of plundering the nation's oil world through opaque networks. Now, let's not also forget, in melda marcos, in the ph Diamonds shoes and all the audacity of public defiance. Even in the West Wall Street, execs walk away with golden parachutes while the working class is left in the dust. Now this is what elite captures looks like.

Speaker 1:

So when Nigerians dragged Trude, it wasn't just because he interviewed Desani. It was because it felt like complicity. It felt like another attempt to scrub clean a legacy soaked in oil, money and controversy. And now the big question is why now? Why the PR push? Well, it's not hard to guess. Rumors are swirling about Desani's potential extradition to face trial in Nigeria. The UK has already charged her in separate bribery case.

Speaker 1:

So maybe, just maybe, just maybe this soft press run is an attempt to reclaim public sympathy ahead of what could be a long legal battle. But will it work? Nigerians are watching, the world is watching, and while she may have friends in high places, the court of public opinion remains the one place where her wealth cannot buy silence. Because, beyond the billions, beyond the power, beyond the interviews, there are still questions that have not been answered. Where did the money go? Who enabled her? And when will we see a conviction, not just a headline?

Speaker 1:

Let's pause here, but this story is far from over. There is still more to unpack Her allies, the silence of former colleagues and the the every way Nigeria forgets too quickly. Anyway, a whole lot is there to talk about, but then let's not forget that she also had her issue with Trudy and she decided to sue Trudy for, you know, daring to put out the interview and putting a twist to it. But this is the situation we face about Desiree and the question we ask will we get justice one day? Will she be brought to book? These are the questions we are asking and this is where I call it an end to today's episode on the batter box podcast. Don't forget, you can follow us on all our social media platform and you can also stream on spotify and every streaming platform. And, like I always say, the matter does not matter until it begins to matter. Once again, my name is baba k and I'm signing out. Bata bata, bata, bata, bata box.