“How Appointment As Nigeria’s First Female Petroleum Minister Ruined My Life” – Alison-Madueke

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has asserted that her position as Nigeria’s first female Petroleum Minister and first female OPEC president made her a target in a male-dominated environment.

Alison-Madueke pointed out that the corruption allegations brought against her severely damaged her reputation and integrity, claiming that powerful interests were behind the legal battle she faced.

In her first major interview after the conclusion of her court case in the United Kingdom, Alison-Madueke revealed that the accusations against her were particularly painful.

She explained that her position as the first female to lead Nigeria’s petroleum ministry and the first female president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), contributed to her predicament.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President

Goodluck Jonathan, was accused of bribery-related offences in the UK.

The case, which lasted about 13 years, involved investigations by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), in collaboration with Nigerian authorities and other witnesses.

She remarked that the prolonged legal process affected her psychologically, adding that losing her freedom had a lasting impact.

“When your freedom is taken away from you, no matter how you try to handle it, it has an impact on you psychologically,” she said. Allegations affected years of hard work.

The former minister described the accusations as “completely damaging from the beginning”, saying they affected years of hard work that led to her becoming one of Africa’s most prominent female political figures.