Former finance minister and current Director‑General of the [World Trade Organization](https://www.wto.org) [Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngozi_Okonjo-Iweala) told Bloomberg that a probe into a massive fuel subsidy fraud triggered the kidnapping of her 82‑year‑old mother in December 2012. The abductors insisted she resign and leave Nigeria; after five harrowing days she was released and later escaped from a forest hide‑out.
**What was the alleged fraud?**
Okonjo‑Iweala said her ministry noticed a sudden surge in subsidy claims and ordered an audit. The investigation uncovered roughly $2.4 billion in fraudulent payments, prompting the government to refuse further disbursements.
**Who demanded her resignation?**
The kidnappers contacted Okonjo‑Iweala and told her that her mother would only be freed if she stepped down as Finance Minister and fled the country.
**How did the ordeal end?**
Her mother, Kamene Okonjo, was held in a remote forest for five days before managing to escape on her own. She survived and is now 96 years old.
**What was Okonjo‑Iweala’s reaction?**
She described the episode as “the worst five‑day ordeal of my life,” adding that the experience left her with lingering guilt and fear. She recalled feeling paralyzed and briefly considering resignation.
**What did her father say?**
Okonjo‑Iweala recounted her father’s firm stance: “We don’t give in to blackmail. You have to carry on and go back to work.”
The kidnapping occurred while Okonjo‑Iweala served under President [Goodluck Jonathan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodluck_Jonathan) in the Ministry of Finance. Her mother was taken from their home in Ogwashi‑Uku, located in [Delta State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_State). The incident remains a stark reminder of the personal risks faced by public officials confronting large‑scale corruption.