How $2.4bn fuel subsidy fraud probe led to my mother’s kidnap – Okonjo-Iweala

Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed how her efforts to expose an alleged $2.4bn fuel subsidy fraud in Nigeria triggered threats against her and the abduction of her mother.

Okonjo-Iweala was Nigeria’s finance minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan before assuming office as WTO director-general in March 2021.

Her mother, Kamene Okonjo, was abducted from her residence in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, in December 2012.

The former Nigerian finance minister disclosed that her mother’s kidnappers demanded that she quit her government position and leave the country as a condition for securing her release.

Okonjo-Iweala shared the details of the incident during an interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua on the Leaders programme, published earlier this week.

She explained that the investigation began after officials noticed a significant increase in claims submitted by petroleum importers under Nigeria’s fuel subsidy scheme.

At the time, Nigeria depended on imported refined petroleum products to satisfy domestic demand despite being a major crude oil producer. The subsidy programme allowed importers to receive government payments to cover the difference between regulated petrol prices and the costs involved.

However, the sharp rise in claims raised concerns about possible irregularities, prompting an examination of the accounts.

Recalling how the investigation unfolded, Okonjo-Iweala said she approached the then president for permission to audit the claims.

“So I went to the president and said, look, something is going on here. Could we audit the accounts? And he said, yes, go ahead. And we found about $2.4 billion worth of fraud. So we refused to pay,” she said.

She explained that refusing to approve the disputed payments exposed her to threats, which eventually escalated into the kidnapping of her mother.

“I was told that for her to be released, I should resign and leave the country,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala described the five-day ordeal as one of the most traumatic experiences she had ever endured, particularly because she feared her determination to fight corruption might cost her mother her life.

“It was a terrible, terrible five-day ordeal. I think the worst in my life,” she said.

According to the WTO chief, her mother was held in a forest before managing to escape one night.

“She was held in the middle of a forest, and one night she escaped. She’s still alive. She’s 96 now,” she said, adding that her mother remains distressed when the incident is brought up.

Asked whether she had contemplated resigning to secure her mother’s freedom, Okonjo-Iweala said her family’s safety would have taken precedence over her official responsibilities.

“Between my mother, having my mother alive and staying in a job, I would pick my mother any day,” she said.

Despite the emotional pressure, she recalled that her father encouraged her to remain firm and refuse to bow to the kidnappers’ demands.

“He said, ‘We don’t give in to blackmail.’ And he said, you’ve got to carry on. You’ve got to go to work,” she recounted.

The former minister admitted that she initially struggled to cope with the situation and considered stepping down in the hope of securing her mother’s release. She added that the experience left her with lingering feelings of guilt.

“I never dreamt my parents could ever be touched in this way, that people would be that evil,” she said.

Reflecting on how the incident shaped her outlook, Okonjo-Iweala said her experiences had taught her patience and strengthened her determination to seek practical solutions when faced with difficult challenges.

She also emphasised the importance of tackling corruption, particularly in countries with limited financial resources, where the misuse of public funds can have serious consequences.

“I feel that this is a real fight that has to be waged. If you are a country that is not that rich, every single penny counts,” she said.