Diezani Alison-Madueke Defends NNPC Fund Withdrawals, Says EFCC Misunderstands Presidential Powers
Earlier this week, the EFCC alleged that Alison-Madueke withdrew N1.3 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) account. Responding to the claims, her media aide, Clem Aguiyi, issued a statement clarifying that the withdrawals were conducted strictly under presidential directives.
Citing Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution, Alison-Madueke emphasized that executive powers are vested in the president, who may act directly or through the vice president and appointed ministers. As Minister of Petroleum Resources, she explained, she acted as a delegate of the president in executing approved instructions.
She detailed the standard procedure, stating that service chiefs or intelligence officers submit written requests to the president for urgent security needs. Upon approval, the president directs the minister of petroleum resources, who in turn instructs the NNPC to execute the payment. The NNPC then transfers the funds from its accounts—either in foreign banks or the Central Bank of Nigeria—directly to the specified security or intelligence units.
Alison-Madueke insisted that she never interfered with the process and that the minister has no authority to question or override presidential directives. She added that all disbursements made under such directives are fully traceable and transparent.
“It is therefore impossible for any funds disbursed under presidential directives to be diverted at the level of the minister,” the statement read. “All amounts approved by the president were executed exclusively by NNPC, and the process is fully auditable. Misrepresentation of this procedure for political purposes or vendetta is entirely unacceptable.”
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