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DELISTED BY CHEVENING: Former Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke
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The United Kingdom-based
Chevening Scholarship has removed the embattled former Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from its list of female achievers, according
to a report by Sahara Reporters. Chevening is an international scholarship scheme
which enables students with leadership qualities from 144 countries and
territories to undertake postgraduate study or courses in universities in the
UK.
After
receiving a Chevening scholarship in 2002, Diezani attended Cambridge
University for her MBA and then returned to Nigeria where she became the first
female Executive Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company.
After
emerging as the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Petroleum
Resources in Nigeria and the first female President of the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries, Chevening on its website, listed her as one of
its best female alumni in commemoration of the March 8 International Women’s
Day.
The Punch report continues:
Diezani
was listed among other international and accomplished women like the Vice
President, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Wang li; a former Minister
for Social Development in Jordan, Hala Bsaisu Lattouf; and a Deputy Minister of
Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Hertzegovina, Denisa Sarajlic-Maglic.
After
recognizing Diezani as one of its best alumni, Chevening had stated on its
website that “We are proud of all our alumni who carry Chevening values with
them through their careers, and on this day, we take special delight in recognizing
and applauding just some of the many women associated with Chevening across the
world who work tirelessly to bring about positive change.
“We
hope that the trail they are blazing will empower the next generation of young
female leaders to ‘make it happen’ on an even bigger scale in the years to
come.”
Besides,
the UK Independent in a report on Wednesday had made references to Chevening’s
high rating of the embattled minister.
However,
following Diezani’s arrest by the UK’s National Crime Agency along with five
other people on allegation of bribery and corruption offences, Chevening
delisted her name from its website but retained the names of its other
‘celebrated women.’
Checks
by one of our correspondents on Thursday showed that Diezani’s name had indeed
been removed from its website.
Meanwhile,
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may have arrested a special
assistant to the embattled minister.
It
was gathered that the Diezani’s aide was picked up by operatives of the
commission at Banana Island in Lagos.
The
source said the aide had been with operatives of the EFCC for a few days and
had made some statements.
Diezani
has four personal assistants and it is not clear if more of them will be
quizzed in relation with the ongoing probe.
“You
know that the EFCC operatives are really going after Diezani’s aides. One of
them was picked up at Banana Island on Tuesday. He has been singing like a
bird. The man has made useful information,” the source said.
When
one of our correspondents contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the
EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, for his comment, he said that he did not know
anything about the investigation.
Since
the UK police started collaborating with the EFCC in the ongoing investigation
into the oil deals under Diezani, the EFCC has come up with a policy not to
comment on it.
It was gathered that it was
in line with the official policy of the UK agency to keep everything secret
about those being probed.
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