Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has declared herself fully vindicated after a London court cleared her of all bribery charges, bringing an end to a legal battle that lasted more than a decade.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court found the former minister not guilty of six charges, including allegations of accepting bribes and conspiracy to commit bribery.
The verdict concluded a high-profile corruption trial that attracted international attention and followed years of investigations by British authorities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday through her representative, Bolouere Opukiri, Alison-Madueke described the judgment as the end of a painful chapter marked by intense public scrutiny and prolonged legal uncertainty.
“Today, at Southwark Crown Court, I was acquitted of all charges brought against me,” she said.
Reflecting on the lengthy legal process, the former minister said the past eleven years had placed a heavy burden on both her and her family.
“For eleven arduous years, this matter has weighed heavily upon me and my family.
”Today, a decade of unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny has finally concluded,” she stated.
The former minister expressed gratitude to God, her legal team, relatives and friends who stood by her throughout the proceedings.
“I give thanks to Almighty God for His faithfulness and for the complete vindication I have received.
”I am grateful to my legal counsel for their diligence, and to my family and friends for their steadfast support and encouragement throughout this period,” she said.
Alison-Madueke noted that the verdict had brought a profound sense of relief after years of living under the shadow of criminal allegations.
“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end,” she added.
The former minister, who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, had consistently denied accusations that she accepted luxury benefits from oil industry figures in exchange for influence over government contracts.
Throughout the trial, she maintained that she neither solicited nor received bribes.
Despite celebrating the court’s decision, Alison-Madueke indicated that she would eventually speak in greater detail about the events surrounding the case and her future plans.
“This, however, is not the final chapter. In due course, I shall address this difficult period in greater detail and share my intentions for the future.
”For now, I intend to embrace the freedom that has been unjustly denied me for many years,” she said.
The acquittal marks the conclusion of one of the most closely watched international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official.
The verdict also cleared her co-defendants, including oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, of related charges.
