Sky-High Corruption: Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke Accused Of Squandering N2 Billion On Private Jets

A Enugu-based group known as “Crusader for Good Governance” has accused Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of wasting millions of dollars of public funds to rent private jets for her official activities. This statement is contained in a petition signed by the groups’s leader, Okechukwu Obiora Nnamdi, and sent to to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This information confirms news reports released earlier today.

Private Jet

According to the petition, Alison-Madueke has frequently traveled around the world in private jets since becoming a minister as well as has moved members of her family in those jets. The group reports that the Minister has spent about N2 billion on private jet rentals.

More specifically, the group accused Alison-Maduekwe of spending $300,000 on an average international trip outside of Nigeria. She allegedly spends around $500,000 on trips to China, Malaysia and destinations alike, the petition says.

Being a nerve center of the Nigerian economy, oil sector is at the same time the vortex of corruption in a country. Alison-Madueke was appointed to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources by President Jonathan in 2011, and quickly became one of the most powerful government officials of Nigeria. Several reports have linked her to sleazy oil deals and a penchant for wastage of public funds.

On the other hand, despite having a reputation for arrogant, greedy and corrupted official, Alison-Maduekeis considered to be one of the most trusted associates of President Jonathan. Reportedly, she manages a huge chunk of his own business deals. According to the information in the media, the minister coordinated the stowing away of funds that helped Jonathan finance 2011 presidential campaigns.

“Today, there’s little or no money around Abuja. But everybody knows that Diezani [Alison-Madueke] has all the money. She will fund the 2015 election for the president,” said Sahara Reporters’ source in Abuja.

The group said its allegations against the Minister could be verified through the records of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN); the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA).

Here is a some of the trips of the minister listed in the petition:

  • During Easter break, she flew a private jet to Dubai with members of her family at the cost of $300,000.
  • During President Jonathan’s visit to South Africa, she flew in a private jet that cost Nigeria $300,000.
  • The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a government agency she oversees, maintains a Challenger 850 Visa jet which serves the minister’s needs as well as those of her family. The cost of running the jet is $500,000 per month.
  • Alison-Madueke went to a meeting of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Austria in a private jet.

This petition has been issued against the backdrop of the continues reports on the

Source: Sahara Reporters

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