UK Law Enforcement Destroyed My Reputation, Integrity – Alison-Madueke


 

By Abdulahi Musa 


Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has accused British law enforcement authorities of destroying her reputation and integrity following her acquittal on all bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom.


Speaking after a jury at Southwark Crown Court cleared her of six counts of bribery, Alison-Madueke said she had endured more than a decade of “unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation and scrutiny” over allegations linked to her tenure as Nigeria's petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015.


The former minister, who also served as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, described the verdict as a complete vindication after years of legal battles that she said had taken a heavy toll on her and her family. According to her, the judgment finally restored her name and brought an end to an ordeal that had lasted for eleven years.


Alison-Madueke had been accused by the UK's National Crime Agency of accepting cash, luxury gifts, private jet trips, chauffeur-driven cars and other benefits from businessmen seeking oil and gas contracts with Nigerian government entities. Throughout the trial, she denied all allegations, insisting that she neither sought nor accepted bribes and that she always acted impartially in public office.


During the proceedings, her defence team argued that she had no direct role in awarding oil contracts and maintained that she was the target of a prolonged smear campaign by individuals opposed to reforms she pursued in Nigeria's oil sector. The defence further questioned the quality of evidence presented by prosecutors and criticised what it described as selective prosecution.


Reacting to the verdict, Alison-Madueke expressed gratitude to her legal team, family and supporters for standing by her throughout the lengthy trial. She stated that although the court case had ended, she would, at a later date, speak in greater detail about her experience and outline her future plans.


“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end,” she said, adding that she now intends to embrace the freedom she believes was unjustly denied to her for many years.


Despite her acquittal in the United Kingdom, reports indicate that Alison-Madueke still faces several unresolved corruption-related cases in Nigeria.

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