Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has spoken about the impact of the United Kingdom corruption investigation that spanned more than a decade, saying the probe severely affected her reputation, freedom and personal life despite ending in her acquittal.
In an interview with the BBC following her clearance by a London court, Alison-Madueke said the lengthy investigation left deep emotional and psychological scars on both her and her family.
“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 former President Goodluck Jonathan and later became the first woman to lead Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), described the experience as painful and traumatic.
She said years of restrictions imposed during the investigation had a profound effect on her life and wellbeing.
“When your freedom is taken away from you, it has a very deep impact upon you psychologically,” she said, maintaining that she had not committed the offences alleged against her.
Alison-Madueke was arrested in London in 2015 but was not formally charged until 2023. Prosecutors alleged that she accepted luxury gifts and benefits from oil industry figures seeking contracts in Nigeria.
However, a jury at Southwark Crown Court acquitted her of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery after months of proceedings.
She argued that the investigation could have been handled differently and called for greater sensitivity by both Nigerian and foreign authorities when dealing with politically exposed persons in international cases.
Asked who bore responsibility for the collapse of the prosecution, Alison-Madueke replied: “There’s a bit of blame everywhere.”
She also disclosed plans to review asset forfeiture proceedings linked to her name, arguing that she had been unable to challenge some of the allegations because she had not been formally charged in those matters.
The acquittal of Alison-Madueke, alongside her brother, Doye Agama, and oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, brings to a close one of the longest-running international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official.
