Diezani furious with her associates for attracting attention to them with their ostentatious display of wealth

FORMER petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has lashed out at her associates Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore for bringing the spotlight on her with their ostentatious lifestyles that have attracted the attention of anti-graft authorities.

Ms Alison-Madueke has been under investigation since she left office in 2015 amid allegations that she and her associates laundered billions of dollars internationally. Messrs Aluko and Omokore were directors of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria (AEDC) and Atlantic Energy Brass Development (AEBD), who the former minister awarded the contract to fund some oil leases jointly held by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NNPC).

Although Mr Aluko stepped down from the boards of both firms around 2014, Mr Omokore continued to run AEDC and AEBD in the capacity of chief executive. In explosive remarks contained in a recorded conversation recovered by investigators probing the corruption allegations, Ms Alison-Madueke said she would be ready to be thrown into jail along with Messrs Aluko and Omokore.

Details of the conversations have now been filed as part of a civil complaint by the United States Department of Justice seeking the forfeiture of over $144m slush funds. Ms Alison-Madueke, Mr Aluko and Mr Omokore were listed as persons of interest in the civil complaint filed at the US District Court, Houston, Texas.

In the case, the complaint revealed how the three individuals laundered millions of dollars on behalf of Ms Alison-Madueke, which was used in buying properties in the US and the UK for her family in return for oil contracts to AEDC and AEBD. In the conversation with Mr Aluko recorded by the former minister on May 14, 2014, an audibly angry Ms Alison-Madueke, admitted to helping Omokore and Aluko secure the multi-billion dollars deal.

In another conversation with another unknown recipient, the former minister dared Mr Aluko to reveal details of their dealings and then face the consequences. She was furious at how the ostentatious acquisitions of Messrs Aluko and Omokore might have led law enforcement agencies across the world to their dealings.

Ms Alison-Madueke was particularly mad at Mr Aluko’s acquisition of a the Galatical Star, a $80m super yacht, warning that he could have rented a yacht for two weeks instead of buying one. In a conversation with him, she carpeted Mr Aluko for his blatant display of wealth, which attracted unnecessary attention.

“You and Jide had some of the most support that we could possibly give. At a time when we’re not doing anything else, we stuck our necks out regarding the strategic alliance agreement and we supported it.

“How the two of you have ruined it is incredulous and incredible to all of us. I spoke to you several times about your general behaviour, acquisition of assets, etc, asking you to be a bit more careful because everyone will start following you," Ms Alison-Madueke added.

In the recorded conversation, Ms Alison-Madueke, in response to speculation that Mr Aluko was going to blackmail her, threatened to spill the beans. She said she was ready to reveal to Nigerians all that happened and was ready to follow Messrs Aluko and Omokore to jail.