Former Nigerian Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has broken her silence after a London jury acquitted her of all bribery charges, describing the 11-year legal battle as a deeply traumatic journey for her and her family.
Acquittal After 46 Hours of Deliberations
A jury at Southwark Crown Court delivered a total acquittal for Alison-Madueke following 46 hours of intensive deliberations. The verdict concludes a high-profile five-month trial and a decade-long investigation by the UK's National Crime Agency.
Speaking after the verdict, an emotional Alison-Madueke said: “I did my job to the best of my ability. I am just thankful to God. It's been a very, very arduous and long, almost 11-year journey. It has been traumatic, not just for me, but for my family, my friends, and all those who have stayed and supported me.”
She added: “For my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt, for my son, and for all those who love us, it has been a hard journey. But I tell you this: God will always do as God wills, and God will be God.”
Allegations and Defence
Alison-Madueke, who served as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan, was charged with accepting bribes from oil executives in exchange for lucrative contracts. British prosecutors argued that these executives funded a luxury lifestyle for her in London, pointing to items such as a £25,000 Chanel handbag, a £22,000 designer rug, private jet flights, chauffeured cars, and the use of high-end properties.
However, the defence successfully argued that these perks were not bribes. Alison-Madueke testified that because her Nigerian credit cards often failed abroad, the executives had simply given her short-term loans. She maintained that every single expense, flight, and property cost was fully paid back using her own family funds and official state allocations. The judge instructed the jury that if the defence's claims of full reimbursement could reasonably be true, the actions could not be legally defined as corruption.
Co-defendants Cleared
The prosecution's case fell apart completely as the jury also cleared Alison-Madueke's co-defendants of all charges. Olatimbo Ayinde, a 54-year-old oil executive accused of providing credit cards for the minister's spending, was cleared of all bribery allegations. Doye Agama, Alison-Madueke's 69-year-old brother and a UK-based pastor, was cleared of conspiracy charges related to alleged illicit payments.
What's Next?
While this absolute acquittal is a massive legal victory for the former minister, her legal battles are not entirely over. Though her name has been cleared in London's criminal courts, separate civil asset recovery cases—which require a lower standard of proof—remain active in other jurisdictions. For now, her legal team says she is finally free to move on with her life after eleven years in limbo.
