KEY POINTS
- A London court acquitted former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke of all six bribery charges.
- She described the verdict as the end of an 11-year traumatic ordeal and thanked God, family and supporters.
- Alison-Madueke said she would later discuss the past decade and her future plans, while focusing on regaining her freedom.
Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has spoken publicly after a London court acquitted her of all bribery charges, saying the verdict brought an end to nearly 11 years of what she described as “unjust vilification.”
A jury at the Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom cleared her of six counts of bribery after several hours of deliberation on Wednesday.
The allegations against Alison-Madueke date back to October 2015, shortly after she left office as a minister in Nigeria. She was arrested in London and later released on bail.
In 2023, UK authorities formally charged her over claims that she received about £100,000 in bribes, including luxury items and access to high-end properties, in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts while in office.
During the trial, her legal team argued that she exercised limited authority over the approval of oil contracts, insisting that most decisions had already been made before they reached her desk.
‘God Is Not a Man That He Should Lie’
Reacting to the judgment in a video message, the former minister expressed gratitude to God, family members and friends who stood by her throughout the lengthy legal battle.
She described the experience as painful and traumatic, saying it affected not only her but also her loved ones, including her 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and her son.
According to her, despite the challenges of the past decade, she remained confident that God would vindicate her.
In a statement issued by her representative, Bolouere Opukiri, Alison-Madueke said she was deeply relieved by the verdict.
She said the judgment marked the end of years of condemnation and intense public scrutiny, adding that she had received complete vindication.
The former minister thanked her legal team for their dedication and appreciated the support she received from family and friends throughout the case.