Okonjo-Iweala: My mother was kidnapped over $2.4bn subsidy fraud investigation

World Trade Organisation Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has revealed that her investigation into an alleged $2.4 billion fuel subsidy fraud triggered her mother’s kidnapping in 2012.

According to PUNCH, Okonjo-Iweala disclosed this during an interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua, explaining that suspicious subsidy claims prompted an audit.

“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.

The former finance minister revealed that threats followed the investigation before her mother, Kamene Okonjo, was abducted.

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

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

Her mother eventually escaped from a forest where she was held.

Okonjo-Iweala said the incident left lasting emotional scars.