17th of April, 2026.

Diezani to UK court: I was a rubber stamp — oil contract decisions made before reaching me

Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, says she had limited control over oil contract approvals during her time in office, as most decisions were made before reaching her desk.

ThisDay reports that Alison-Madueke, while giving evidence during her trial at the Southwark Crown Court, said contract processes in the oil sector passed through multiple agencies before getting to the minister (her).

She said the operational authority of the sector rested largely with the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), while the ministry played an oversight role.

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