Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke has spoken publicly for the first time since a United Kingdom court cleared her of bribery charges, saying the end of her legal battle is not the end of her story.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London found the 65-year-old not guilty of six counts of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. Prosecutors had accused her of taking kickbacks from Oil and Gas Executives in exchange for contracts awarded during the Goodluck Jonathan administration between 2010 and 2015.
Reacting through her aide, Bolouere Opukiri, Alison-Madueke said she was relieved that “a decade of unrelenting vilification and unjust scrutiny has finally concluded.”
She thanked her legal team, family, and friends for standing by her through the 11-year ordeal.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Alison-Madueke said:
“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. Today, a decade of unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny has finally concluded.
“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.
“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end.
“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.”
Alison-Madueke served as Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015.