Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has denied ownership of the $52.5 million recently repatriated to Nigeria from the United States.
Speaking from the United Kingdom, where she has resided since leaving Nigeria, Alison-Madueke claimed the funds, often linked to her in media reports, actually belong to Nigerian oil magnate Kola Aluko.
The development comes amid ongoing investigations into corruption allegations involving the former minister.
Breaking her silence in the matter through her counsel, Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN, Mrs Alison Madueke insisted that there was nothing like “Diezani Loot”, since she had no hand whatsoever in the issues surrounding the forfeiture of the money by the owner.
Stating her position, the former minister said the $52.5m came from a vessel seized by the American government from Kola Aluko and which was later sold and proceeds returned to the federal government of Nigeria.
Her denial of ownership of the money was contained in a lengthy press statement issued on Sunday by the Chambers of Mike Ozekhome SAN and titled ” There is no such thing as Diezani Loot “.
Part of the statement read “My chambers make this intervention in the public domain as Solicitors to Diezani Alison-Madueke (DAM) ,the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, HMPR.