The political space heated up after billionaire businessman Femi Otedola announced a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Otedola accused Sani of claiming he benefitted from the fuel subsidy fraud under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
But in a Monday interview with Arise News, Sani insisted his words were misrepresented. He stressed that he never said Otedola was involved in subsidy fraud, only that he had enjoyed certain privileges during Jonathan’s tenure. For Sani, his only motivation was loyalty to the administration he served, which he believes Otedola unfairly singled out.
“I hold no grudge against him,” Sani explained. “But when he mentioned only Jonathan’s government as the one where ₦2 trillion was lost, I had to respond. Subsidy issues have existed since Obasanjo’s time till now—so why point fingers at Jonathan alone?”
Sani went on to clarify that Otedola’s name had indeed appeared in official reports like those of Ike Ekweremadu and Farouk Lawan, but he was only “spotlighted” — not indicted. He argued that Nigerians deserve to know the full story, especially since Lawan was caught in a sting operation collecting marked money from Otedola, raising deeper questions about what led to that incident.
The PDP chieftain maintained that his statements were taken out of context. “Nowhere did I say Otedola benefitted from subsidy fraud,” he said firmly. “I only raised questions about the events that played out and why they did.”
Sani concluded by urging Otedola to go beyond political statements and help name those who truly defrauded Nigeria of trillions, saying such revelations would serve the country far more than pointing fingers at one administration.
