Former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has accused UK authorities of destroying her reputation after she was cleared of bribery charges following a 13-year investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Speaking to the BBC after her acquittal at Southwark Crown Court on five counts of bribery and conspiracy, Alison-Madueke described the case as “painful and traumatic,” insisting she had been unfairly treated throughout the long-running probe.
“I’ve not been allowed to travel. I’ve not been allowed to work. They destroyed my reputation and my integrity,” she said, adding that the experience had taken a serious psychological toll on her.
The former minister, who served between 2010 and 2015 and became the first female president of OPEC, was arrested in 2015 but only formally charged in 2023.
She was accused of receiving bribes, including luxury goods, cash benefits, chauffeur-driven cars, and access to high-value properties in London and Buckinghamshire.
Her defence team, however, challenged the prosecution’s case, arguing that key documents supporting her innocence were missing and may have been taken from Nigeria during earlier investigations.
Alison-Madueke claimed these included receipts showing that payments made on her behalf had been reimbursed.
She also said former President Goodluck Jonathan had confirmed that Nigerian officials often accepted third-party funding for official travel and accommodation.
While she acknowledged that “there’s a bit of blame everywhere,” she criticised both Nigerian and UK authorities, saying the investigation lacked proper sensitivity and due process.
She suggested she may have been targeted due to her prominence in Nigeria’s oil sector, adding that her position as the first female petroleum minister and OPEC president made her a high-profile figure in a “misogynistic society.”
The NCA, in response to the verdict, said it respected the jury’s decision and declined further comment.
Alison-Madueke’s brother and another co-defendant were also acquitted in the case.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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