By Aisha Muhammad Magaji
Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola has filed a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit against Umar Sani, a former Special Adviser to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, over alleged statements linking him to the country’s fuel subsidy fraud. In addition, Otedola has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the full Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report on the subsidy scandal.
The lawsuit follows accusations made by Sani, claiming that Otedola was involved in the multi-trillion-naira subsidy fraud. Otedola dismissed the claims as “false, baseless, and a shameless attempt to pander to lies,” insisting that his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, was engaged solely in diesel importation a product that was deregulated and not subject to subsidy schemes.
“I am shocked that a former public officer could make such uninformed claims,” Otedola said, describing the allegations as an attack on his reputation and a distortion of facts.
Otedola also called on President Tinubu to make public the Aig-Imoukhuede report, which investigated the fuel subsidy scheme during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. According to him, the presidency at the time had directed the EFCC to halt the probe, preventing the real culprits from being exposed.
“The Nigerian public deserves to know the truth about what transpired,” Otedola stated. “I was among the first to alert the government to the subsidy fraud, leading to investigations and the eventual conviction of Farouk Lawan for bribery.”
Through his lawyers, Otedola has filed the defamation suit to hold Sani accountable and protect his reputation. He emphasized that public figures must not allow false narratives to tarnish their names and urged that justice be served to deter similar misconduct in the future.
This legal development is expected to stir discussions on accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s oil sector. Analysts note that the release of the Aig-Imoukhuede report could further clarify the dynamics of the subsidy fraud and provide closure to Nigerians seeking answers.
- The lawsuit and calls for transparency place renewed pressure on the government to ensure that historical financial malpractices are addressed. Stakeholders are closely watching developments, anticipating both legal and policy outcomes that may impact public confidence in Nigeria’s oil sector governance.
