Former minister of petroleum resources Diezani Alison-Madueke has denied social media claims alleging that she made statements linking her to the transfer of billions of dollars to Zamfara State governor Dauda Lawal.
In a statement issued on Thursday by her family, legal representatives and the Bayelsa Youth Association led by its interim president, Bigbo Solomon, Mrs Alison-Madueke said she has never made such remarks and has no financial dealings with governor Lawal.
The group said the reports appeared timed to distract the public during a period of national difficulty and to interfere with the former minister’s ongoing legal matters in the United Kingdom, where she is facing corruption-related proceedings.
“This is not the first time that false narratives have been planted in the media to distort facts and damage her reputation,” the statement read.
It added that Mrs Alison-Madueke remains committed to clearing her name through proper legal channels.
The group urged the media and members of the public to exercise caution in sharing unverified reports.
They also called on security agencies and regulators to investigate those behind what they described as a campaign of falsehood.
Mrs Alison-Madueke, who left office in 2015, has faced multiple allegations from Nigerian and international authorities.
Assets linked to her have been seized in Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom, while several of her associates have been prosecuted.
Reaffirming her position, she said she would continue to defend herself within the confines of due process and the law and not in the “court of public opinion.”
