Mahdi Shehu has stated that Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, might be planning a return to Nigeria to reclaim assets seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In an interview on the PAP Show, Shehu drew a comparison between Diezani’s situation and that of ex-Attorney General Abubakar Malami. He noted that the amount of money and property taken from Diezani—amounting to trillions of naira—was significantly larger, yet the country had remained stable despite the seizures.
According to Shehu, he had learned through informal channels—what he referred to as "the vineyard"—that Diezani intended to come back to Nigeria to recover assets that had already been confiscated and sold. This, he claimed, followed a court ruling in London that had cleared her.
He added that if she did return, it should not come as a surprise if she were recognized by the government or even entered politics by running for positions such as governor or senator, given how political dynamics in Nigeria can allow such outcomes.
Shehu also raised concerns that a successful recovery of her assets could cast doubt on past asset forfeitures ordered by courts. If she regained her property, he argued, it might compel the government to reconsider or even apologize to others who lost assets under similar legal rulings.
Diezani has long been under investigation in Nigeria for alleged corruption, with multiple properties seized through court-sanctioned forfeiture processes.
As Shehu put it, “I heard from the vineyard that she's coming back to Nigeria to reclaim all assets that were confiscated and sold over by EFCC, because she has been vindicated by the court in London.”
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