The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed that her investigation into an alleged $2.4 billion petrol subsidy fraud was followed by the kidnapping of her mother, Kamene Okonjo, in 2012.
She made the disclosure during a recent interview with Bloomberg, recalling how the kidnappers demanded that she resign as Nigeria’s finance minister and leave the country in exchange for her mother’s release.
Her mother was abducted from her residence in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, in December 2012, while Okonjo-Iweala was serving under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to the former finance minister, the investigation began after her office noticed an unusual increase in claims submitted by petrol importers. She subsequently sought and obtained the President’s approval to audit the accounts.
Okonjo-Iweala said the audit uncovered approximately $2.4 billion in alleged fraud, prompting the government to refuse payment of the disputed claims.
She explained that her mother was kidnapped shortly after the decision, with the abductors reportedly insisting that she resign from office and leave Nigeria before they would release her.
Describing the incident as one of the most traumatic experiences of her life, Okonjo-Iweala said her mother was held in a forest for five days before escaping.
She disclosed that her mother, who is now 96, survived the ordeal despite the frightening circumstances surrounding her abduction.
The WTO chief said the incident deeply affected her, as she had never imagined that her parents could become targets of such violence.
She also revealed that she considered resigning during the crisis but was discouraged by her father, who advised her not to give in to the kidnappers’ demands.
According to her, her father urged her to remain firm, reject the attempt at blackmail and continue performing her official duties.
Okonjo-Iweala served as Nigeria’s finance minister from 2011 to 2015 before becoming the WTO Director-General in 2021.
