Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Madueke has stated that she was not the minister of petroleum, in 2006, when the Indian companies entered into an agreement with the Federal Government
Embattled former minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison Madueke, has through her lawyers, Messers Chike Obi, dismissed reports that he deliberately hindered the signing of a $15b oil deal with two Indian firms.
According to Sun Newspapers, Madueke said that the allegation was spurious, false and lacking in substance. Adding that she was not the minister of petroleum, in 2006, when the Indian companies entered into an agreement with the Federal Government.
"The High Commissioner’s acrimony towards her was due to the Federal Government’s refusal to allow an Indian firm, Oil and Gas Commission Videsh Limited (OVL), default on its contractual obligation to provide a $6 billion investment, (around RS 36,600 rupies) in an 180,000 barrels (bpd) Greenfield refinery and 2,000 megawatt power plant and railway line from East to West of Nigeria," the statement had read in part.
You will recall that the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Ajjampur R. Ghanashyam, accused Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke of delaying the approval of oil concession to two Indian companies, Oil and Gas Commission, Videsh Limited (OVL) and Mittal Energy International JV, OMEL (MITTAL) in 2006.