Diezani Alison-Madueke Breaks Silence After UK Court Acquittal, Says ‘My Story Is Not Over’

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has spoken publicly following her acquittal by a United Kingdom court, describing the verdict as a long-awaited vindication after more than a decade of legal battles and public scrutiny.

The former minister’s reaction came after a jury sitting at Southwark Crown Court in London cleared her of all charges relating to bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery.

Alison-Madueke, 65, had faced allegations that she accepted illicit benefits and kickbacks from individuals within the oil and gas sector in exchange for the award of lucrative contracts during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015.

Following the verdict, the former minister released a statement through her aide, Bolouere Opukiri, expressing relief that the lengthy legal process had finally come to an end.

According to her, the acquittal marks the conclusion of what she described as years of unjust accusations, public condemnation and intense scrutiny that affected both her and her family.

“Today, at Southwark Crown Court, I was acquitted of all charges brought against me. For eleven arduous years, this matter has weighed heavily upon me and my family,” she stated.

Alison-Madueke said the verdict represents complete vindication after what she characterised as a decade-long campaign of vilification.

“Today, a decade of unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny has finally concluded,” she added.

The former minister also expressed gratitude to her legal team, family members and close associates, whom she credited for standing by her throughout the prolonged legal proceedings.

She particularly thanked her lawyers for their commitment to her defence and acknowledged the support she received from friends and relatives during what she described as one of the most difficult periods of her life.

“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 acquittal has brought her a sense of relief and restored her reputation after years of uncertainty.

“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end,” she declared.

Despite celebrating the court’s decision, the former minister indicated that she intends to speak more extensively in the future about her experiences during the legal battle and the impact it had on her life.

She hinted that the acquittal is not the final chapter of her journey and suggested that she would, at a later date, outline her future plans and provide further details about the events surrounding the case.

“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,” she said.

“For now, I intend to embrace the freedom that has been unjustly denied me for many years.”

The verdict brings an end to one of the most high-profile corruption-related cases involving a former Nigerian public official in the United Kingdom and is likely to reignite debate over accountability, governance and anti-corruption efforts linked to Nigeria’s oil sector.