Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The mother of Nigerian Finance Minister and former World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been kidnapped from her home in the country's south, a statement from her ministry said.
"Earlier today, Professor (Mrs) Kamene Okonjo ... mother of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was abducted from her home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State," the statement said on Sunday.
Finance Ministry spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said the minister had received threats in the past.
"At this point, it is difficult to say whether those behind this action are the same people who have made threats against the coordinating minister in the recent past or other elements with hostile motives. No possibility can be ruled out at this point." Nwabuikwu said.
A security source said it was not clear whether the motive was political or ransom-seeking.
The source in Abuja said three people had already been arrested in connection with the kidnapping. He had no further details.
Mother of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Frequent kidnappings
Kidnappings for ransom have occurred frequently in Nigeria's southern oil-producing Niger Delta region.
Local newspapers carry a story about a new kidnapping almost every day, often of professionals or relatives of politicians, but rarely anyone as high profile as the finance minister's mother.
Okonjo-Iweala has pushed to clean up corruption in one of the world's most graft-ridden nations, particularly related to a fuel subsidy programme alleged to be riddled with graft.
The minister has been struggling with fuel importers over payment of subsidies, with government officials delaying payments to allow for verification of claims.
The respected Okonjo-Iweala was earlier this year a candidate to head the World Bank, where she previously worked as a managing director. The job eventually went to Korean-American physician Jim Yong Kim though the Nigerian minister was viewed as a strong candidate to break the US lock on the post.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer with some 160 million people.

Gov Uduaghan

Okonjo-Iweala’s mother will be rescued in 24 hours – Uduaghan
The Governor of Delta State, Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has declared that the kidnapped mother of the coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Professor (Mrs) Kamene Okonjo, will be rescued within 24 hours.
The governor who refused to give more details on the high profile kidnap that occurred in his state, made it known that he has given the order for the immediate rescue of the Professor.
Mr Uduaghan, revealed this on our breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, where he said that “I have given the orders that she (Professor Mrs Kamene Okonjo), must be fished out within the next 24 hours.”
The Governor refused to discuss any further on the kidnap and rescue mission saying, “I don’t want to discuss about the kidnap because of the nature of the person involved.”

“Let’s just leave it at that”, he concluded.
Mr Uduaghan described the kidnap as a ”kill-joy”, as it is coming at a time when the state is celebrating its triumph at the just concluded National Sports Festival and the coming yuletide season.
Meanwhile, the Delta state police command says that it is on the trial of kidnappers who abducted the octogenarian Professor of Medicine.
Delta state police spokesperson, Charles Muka, said the police have information that will lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.
The oil-rich state has been a major kidnap spot for oil workers prior to the amnesty declared by late President Umaru Yar’Adua for the Niger Delta militants in 2008.
There has been a lull in such abductions in the last few years, but a number of kidnaps have been reported in the last two years.
The mother of the coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Professor (Mrs) Kamene Okonjo, was abducted by unknown gunmen from her home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta state at about midday on Sunday.
Confirming the kidnap, a press release signed by the Minister’s personal assistant, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, late on Sunday, stated that the mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was abducted from her home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta state.
It is yet to be confirmed if those behind the kidnap, are the same people who have made threats against the coordinating minister in recent, past or other elements with hostile motives.
The kidnappers are yet to make contact with the family of the victim.
The 82-year-old monarch’s wife was said to have been abducted at about 1.47PM by a gang of armed men who seized her at the gate of the palace at Ogbe-ofu.
Her husband, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo, a retired Professor of Economics, is the traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku.