A former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has denied granting an interview in London recently where she allegedly indicted the current Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal.

A newspaper had reported that the ex-minister, who served during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, spoke with journalists in London during which she begged to be allowed to return home.

Mrs Alison-Madueke fled Nigeria in 2015 and has been in the United Kingdom (UK). She faces corruption charges in Nigeria and the UK.

The purported London interview sparked diverse reactions with Mr Lawal’s allies saying the reports were to disparage him.

The newspaper that reported the fake interview has since pulled down the story.

An unverified screenshot has also been in circulation alleging that the EFCC amplified the controversial publication on it’s Instagram account. This newspaper has yet to independently verify the allegation.

In a bid to confirm the veracity of the report, PREMIUM TIMES reached out to Mrs Alison-Madueke.

The former petroleum minister, in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, described the report as “fake” and “concocted.”

“I did not grant an interview to anyone and therefore did not say any of the things attributed to me. It is fake news concocted for reasons I do not know,” Mrs Alison-Madueke told PREMIUM TIMES in the brief interview Saturday evening.

In the earlier viral interview, Mrs Alison-Madueke was reported to have implored President Bola Tinubu to permit her to return to Nigeria “to confess to her financial misconduct during her tenure.”

The newspaper reported that Mrs Alison-Madueke spoke to the press in London after a medical visit, and “expressed her readiness to disclose details of the funds she allegedly misappropriated while in office.”

The newspaper quoted the former minister as saying, “I am now a born-again Christian and currently grappling with the second stage of cancer, for which my United Kingdom-based physician has advised me to continue medication for the rest of my life. Yes, no one is flawless, but 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…”

Mrs Alison-Madueke, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that she did not grant the interview and that she did not say any of the things that were credited to her.

In its reaction, the EFCC also denied authoring the post on its Instagram handle

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, told THE PUNCH, “The report is not from the EFCC. Anything that is not signed by me is not from us (the EFCC).”

Zamfara PDP reacts
Despite the EFCC denying the Instagram post, the Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the anti-graft agency and demanded an apology.

In a statement its Publicity Secretary, Abba Oando, the PDP said Mr Lawal was acquitted of all corruption charges by Nigeria’s Supreme Court on 12 March 2021.

Mr Oando expressed disappointment with the EFCC for allegedly allowing fake news to be published on its platform.

The Zamfara PDP argued that “Pulling down the fake story is not sufficient. The anti-corruption body should issue a disclaimer and promptly apologise for this avoidable and costly unprofessionalism.”

The Federal High Court, Abuja, in January 2022, issued an arrest warrant against Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke over corruption charges against her.

Earlier, on 4 December 2018, a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Valentine Ashi (now deceased), ordered the EFCC, the Nigerian Police Force, the States Security Service (SSS), and all other security agencies to arrest her within 72 hours.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, 63, is also facing bribery charges at a London court. She is alleged to have benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties among others, by government contractors while she was minister. She was Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/653722-exclusive-alison-madueke-speaks-on-alleged-interview-about-return-to-nigeria-zamfara-governor.html?fbclid=IwAR0zEqvIHcZfZnHnSc_Fq9l7AJOvEG17ci-yN33AUyCifMB6XqcMc4Pw2Tg

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7947368/im-dying-cancer-allow-me

A plea bargain no go bad sha

All the noise of emiefele this and deizaini that are formats of distractions from the incompetence failure and no headway of the criminal gangsters in power.

If emiefele is guilty of anything, hammer him and quit the media noise.

The criminal gang in power and their online miscreants are pouring out irrelevant things to divert your attention from their crimes, incompetence, directionlessness and failures.

Every Nigerian from Tinubu to the least person on the street is a thief. Know this and have peace.

This I have seen.

Who can we then trust?

chokekachy:


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/653722-exclusive-alison-madueke-speaks-on-alleged-interview-about-return-to-nigeria-zamfara-governor.html?fbclid=IwAR0zEqvIHcZfZnHnSc_Fq9l7AJOvEG17ci-yN33AUyCifMB6XqcMc4Pw2Tg

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7947368/im-dying-cancer-allow-me

APC lying machines at work, Satan will be afraid of them from hell. How can people lie without blinking an eye

Tntsi:
All the noise of emiefele this and deizaini that are formats of distractions from the incompetence failure and no headway of the criminal gangsters in power.

If emiefele is guilty of anything, hammer him and quit the media noise.

The criminal gang in power and their online miscreants are pouring out irrelevant things to divert your attention from their crimes, incompetence, directionlessness and failures.

Very true.

When I read it, I knew it was as fake as bulabans

Toh
I nor talk am
I knew the news was planted by APC in the media to tarnish Dauda Lawal's image with the planned re-run they want to impose on zamfara through their judicial bandits
It was also a plot to give their media rats something to gnaw at a reason for the bleak Christmas Nigerians will be facing

Apc & their supporters are using sensational headlines garnished with lies, deceit and propaganda to divert the attention of Nigerians from the economic & disastrous policies of the certificate forger Tinubu

The Private investigator Set up against Emiefele was also part of the diversionary propaganda tactics.

Tinubu has nothing good to offer Nigeria, be it in security, economy, education, jobs, health, Sport, absolutely nothing.

The darkness of lies & propaganda employed by Tinubu & distributed by his online creatures are from satan himself.

But because of their natural hatred & jealousy for the people of the SS & SE they like to execute their propaganda, lies & deceit on people from that region. That is the reason they are always sad & bitter when the SS or SE stand beside each other

How the sad life of some group of creatures can be full of evil, bitterness, misery, hopelessness & darkness is beyond comprehension hence beyond redemption.

Thief woman wey still get mouth to talk , in a saner climes na prison you for dey by now

All these na wash.

Chaiii, naija!

I knew it was false from day one. Sahara oti ku

chokekachy:


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/653722-exclusive-alison-madueke-speaks-on-alleged-interview-about-return-to-nigeria-zamfara-governor.html?fbclid=IwAR0zEqvIHcZfZnHnSc_Fq9l7AJOvEG17ci-yN33AUyCifMB6XqcMc4Pw2Tg

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7947368/im-dying-cancer-allow-me

All the previous Nigerian civilian governments since 1999 including the current one led by President Bola Tinubu have been inadvertently condoning the massive spread of fake news by NOT punishing those who criminally defame and concoct fake news on social media, television and newspapers. Punishments under existing laws with hard labor will deter these things from regularly occuring.

For the sake of social sanity and national stability, these criminals who spread fake news with impunity have to be brought to justice by the current Nigerian Federal government's intelligence apparatus NOW!

Noted.

I knew it

Tntsi:
All the noise of emiefele this and deizaini that are formats of distractions from the incompetence failure and no headway of the criminal gangsters in power.

If emiefele is guilty of anything, hammer him and quit the media noise.

The criminal gang in power and their online miscreants are pouring out irrelevant things to divert your attention from their crimes, incompetence, directionlessness and failures.

Did you hit your head? Sorry for asking BTW, just wondering how a human being can be this dumb. So because those in power aren't saint, criminals shouldn't be exposed? Get some sense dumb niqqa!

Do Thiefņubu's supporters know what $9 Billion mean. How on earth will a minister be able to steal such an amount from a poor country like Nigeria?

Shame on EFCC for spreading fake news. Deziani attended the best of schools and speaks very good English. That $9B story together with the very poor English in that story struck me as FAKE NEWS

Unfortunately, these are the kinds of lies we should be getting from that thief in Aso Rock and his supporters.

Ok

chokekachy:


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/653722-exclusive-alison-madueke-speaks-on-alleged-interview-about-return-to-nigeria-zamfara-governor.html?fbclid=IwAR0zEqvIHcZfZnHnSc_Fq9l7AJOvEG17ci-yN33AUyCifMB6XqcMc4Pw2Tg

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7947368/im-dying-cancer-allow-me

Sounded fake though. The things she said. Still, she made a mistake running away from Nigeria. All she had to do was budget N1-3b for bribery and she'd be home free. If these people'd rather leave Nigeria where they'd go free to a place where sacred cows are turned into corned beef, Nigeria must be hell.

Tntsi:
All the noise of emiefele this and deizaini that are formats of distractions from the incompetence failure and no headway of the criminal gangsters in power.

If emiefele is guilty of anything, hammer him and quit the media noise.

The criminal gang in power and their online miscreants are pouring out irrelevant things to divert your attention from their crimes, incompetence, directionlessness and failures.

Out of point.....

BigBlackPreek:
Thief woman wey still get mouth to talk , in a saner climes na prison you for dey by now

She dey UK na


Saner clime they couldn't convinct her

FalseProphet1:
Every Nigerian from Tinubu to the least person on the street is a thief. Know this and have peace.

This I have seen.

Don't want to agree with u but everytime I try to think t of I ending up laffing idk y lol.

perdollar:
I knew it was false from day one. Sahara oti ku

Sharp, sharp! Salute!
Sowore's phony b.s. again.

You will see the speed at which obidients will be defending her. Without smoke there can never be fire. Sahara reporters may be inadequate in some ways but there is element of truth in all these. Why can u visit Nigeria if u are clean. Thank God we all dodge the bullet.