$2.4bn subsidy fraud probe triggered my mother’s kidnap — Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, recounted how her efforts to uncover a $2.4bn fuel subsidy fraud in Nigeria led to threats against her and the kidnapping of her mother in early 2013. The investigation began after officials noticed a sharp increase in claims submitted by fuel importers under Nigeria's subsidy programme, which provided government payments to importers to sell petrol at regulated prices.

Okonjo-Iweala said she presented her concerns to the president, who agreed to an audit. The auditors uncovered about $2.4 billion worth of fraud, leading to the refusal to pay importers. In response, Okonjo-Iweala was threatened with resignation and her mother's abduction. During the ordeal, her mother was held in a forest before escaping.

Okonjo-Iweala's father advised her not to give in to the kidnappers' demands. Despite the fear and guilt she experienced, she emphasized that her mother's safety was paramount, stating that she would choose her mother's life over staying in her position.