Former senator and media entrepreneur Ben Murray-Bruce has congratulated former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, following her acquittal on bribery charges by a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Reacting to the verdict in a post on X on Wednesday, Murray-Bruce said justice should be upheld irrespective of public sentiment or political considerations.
“Justice must always be celebrated, regardless of public opinion or political sentiment.
“I congratulate my sister, Diezani Alison-Madueke on her acquittal by a London jury after a lengthy legal process. The verdict is a reminder that in any democracy governed by the rule of law, every individual is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial.
“May this bring closure to a chapter that has lasted more than a decade. My best wishes to her and her family.”
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, was cleared of all bribery charges by a London jury, bringing an end to a corruption trial that had attracted significant public attention.
The former minister was found not guilty on five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Throughout the proceedings, she consistently denied all allegations against her.
British prosecutors had alleged that Alison-Madueke received luxury benefits, including access to high-end properties and other expensive perks, from individuals linked to the oil and gas industry in exchange for influence over the award of lucrative contracts in Nigeria.
However, Alison-Madueke maintained that she never accepted bribes and did not play a direct role in awarding contracts.
The verdict concludes a legal battle that has spanned several years and remained one of the most closely watched cases involving a former Nigerian public official in the United Kingdom.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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