Okonjo-Iweala’s mother was kidnapped after the former Nigerian finance minister refused to approve billions of dollars in suspicious fuel subsidy claims, according to a fresh account by World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In an interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua on the Leaders programme, Okonjo-Iweala revealed that her mother’s abductors demanded her resignation and departure from Nigeria in exchange for her release.
The former minister described the incident as one of the most painful experiences of her life. She said she feared for her mother’s safety while facing pressure over her decision to investigate suspected fraud.
How a $2.4bn Subsidy Investigation Sparked Threats
Okonjo-Iweala said the crisis began when officials noticed a sharp rise in claims submitted by fuel importers under Nigeria’s petrol subsidy programme.
At the time, Nigeria relied heavily on imported refined petroleum products despite being a major crude oil producer. The government paid subsidies to help keep petrol prices at regulated levels.
However, the growing claims raised concerns about possible abuse of the system.
Okonjo-Iweala said she sought presidential approval to audit the accounts. The investigation, she recalled, uncovered about $2.4 billion in suspected fraud. Her team then refused to approve the disputed payments.
She said the decision was followed by threats against her before the situation took a more personal turn.
Kidnappers Demanded Her Resignation
The WTO chief recalled that the abductors gave her a choice: leave her position as finance minister and leave the country, or risk her mother remaining in captivity.
The demand placed her in an agonising position. She said she briefly considered resigning because she feared that continuing in office could endanger her mother’s life.
Okonjo-Iweala explained that protecting her mother mattered more to her than keeping her job. Yet her father urged her not to allow the kidnappers to dictate her decisions.
He encouraged her to reject the demand and continue with her duties, she recalled.
Five Days of Fear Before Her Mother Escaped
The ordeal lasted five days, according to Okonjo-Iweala. She said her mother was held in a forest before managing to escape one night.
Her mother, Kamene Okonjo, is now 96, the WTO director-general said. Despite surviving the incident, she still becomes distressed when the family discusses what happened.
The experience also left Okonjo-Iweala with a lingering sense of guilt. She said she had never imagined that her parents could become targets because of her public responsibilities.
For her, the incident was a painful reminder of the personal risks that can accompany efforts to challenge alleged corruption.
Why She Refused to Abandon the Investigation
Reflecting on the episode, Okonjo-Iweala said the experience strengthened her determination to pursue solutions when confronted with difficult problems.
She also stressed the importance of protecting public funds, particularly in countries with limited resources.
Her position was that every amount lost through fraud reduces the resources available to meet public needs. She maintained that efforts to address financial abuse are therefore important to a country’s development.
The account offers a personal perspective on the pressure she faced while serving as finance minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The 2012 Kidnap That Shook Nigeria
Kamene Okonjo was abducted from her home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, in December 2012. The incident attracted widespread attention because of her daughter’s position in the Federal Government.
Okonjo-Iweala later became director-general of the World Trade Organisation in March 2021.
Her latest recollection brings renewed attention to the kidnapping and the difficult choices she said she faced during the five-day ordeal. It also highlights the personal consequences she associated with challenging suspected fraud in public finance.