Hehehe....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 Organisation 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.
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 recognising 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 recognising 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 ýpicked 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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