Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has finally spoken publicly after being cleared of bribery charges in the United Kingdom, describing the lengthy legal battle as deeply traumatic and damaging to her reputation.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC after her acquittal at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, the former minister said the 13-year investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) left lasting emotional and professional damage.
According to Diezani, the prolonged investigation and prosecution severely disrupted her life, affecting her freedom, career, and public image.
“I’ve not been allowed to travel. I’ve not been allowed to work. They destroyed my reputation and my integrity,” she said.
The former minister, who served under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, was discharged and acquitted of five counts bordering on bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery.
She had been accused of receiving luxury benefits from oil businessmen linked to government contracts, including expensive items from Harrods worth over £2 million, luxury vehicles with chauffeurs, and access to high-end properties in London and Buckinghamshire.
However, Diezani maintained throughout the trial that she committed no wrongdoing and insisted she was wrongly targeted.
“When your freedom is taken away from you…it has a very deep impact upon you psychologically,” she said.
“I knew that I had never done anything nefarious and I had never done any of the heinous things I was being accused of doing.”
Diezani also raised concerns about missing documents she said could have strengthened her defence during the trial. According to her, important records and receipts proving that payments made on her behalf were later refunded could not be produced because they were allegedly taken during a raid on her Abuja residence in 2015.
“Those items were taken away by our intelligence forces,” she said, adding that she remains unaware of what eventually happened to them.
Her legal team had earlier argued that the absence of those documents weakened her defence during proceedings.
Former President Jonathan, who appointed her as petroleum minister, reportedly submitted evidence before the court explaining that it was common for third parties to cover transport and accommodation expenses for government officials during official foreign trips.
When asked who should be held responsible for her ordeal, Diezani said blame cuts across several institutions.
“There’s a bit of blame everywhere,” she said.
“The Nigerian authorities need to look into the processes and practices that they deploy in these cases.”
She also accused the UK authorities of unfairly focusing on her while ignoring the political realities surrounding her time in office.
According to Diezani, her anti-corruption efforts within Nigeria’s oil sector made her powerful enemies, and she believes this contributed to the case against her.
She further argued that international law enforcement agencies should exercise greater caution when handling politically sensitive cases involving foreign officials.
“The long arm of the law when you go into other countries, particularly in politically motivated cases, needs to have a lot more sensitivity,” she said.
In response, the UK’s National Crime Agency defended its actions, stating that the case involved an extensive and complex investigation which was consistently reviewed by prosecutors and investigators. The agency also said it respected the verdict delivered by the jury.
Also cleared alongside Diezani were her elder brother, Archbishop Doye Agamas, and oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who had faced related charges.
Despite her acquittal in the UK, Diezani still faces lingering scrutiny over corruption allegations linked to her time in office.
In 2022, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it had recovered about $153 million and more than 80 properties allegedly connected to the former minister.
Similarly, the United States Department of Justice announced in 2023 the recovery of $53 million in assets from oil businessmen allegedly linked to transactions involving her.
Diezani, however, said she was never formally charged in relation to the U.S. asset recovery case and insisted all oil contract awards under her watch followed due process.
She also questioned the basis of the asset forfeitures in Nigeria, arguing that the properties and funds were never directly traced to her.
The former minister said she now intends to seek clarity on the assets seized in both Nigeria and abroad.
