The recent acquittal of former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the United Kingdom has not ended corruption investigations and asset-recovery proceedings against her in Nigeria, anti-corruption group HEDA has declared. HEDA chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said the Southwark Crown Court jury’s June 17 verdict must be respected, but cautioned against interpreting it as a judgment […]
The recent acquittal of former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the United Kingdom has not ended corruption investigations and asset-recovery proceedings against her in Nigeria, anti-corruption group HEDA has declared.
HEDA chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said the Southwark Crown Court jury’s June 17 verdict must be respected, but cautioned against interpreting it as a judgment covering every allegation associated with Alison-Madueke.
According to the organisation, the UK court dealt specifically with the bribery charges prosecuted before it under British law.
It argued that separate allegations, investigations and proceedings being pursued under Nigerian law remain distinct and should be assessed independently based on evidence.
HEDA therefore urged the Federal Government and anti-corruption agencies to continue pursuing credible cases against the former minister, provided such actions comply with due process and constitutional safeguards.
Suraju said the British judgment should not be presented either as evidence that Alison-Madueke was guilty of all allegations against her or as a blanket decision clearing her of every matter connected to her.
HEDA said it had monitored the former minister’s case for years and included the matter in its Compendium of 100 High-Profile Corruption Cases.
The organisation recalled that its 2020 publication documented efforts to bring Alison-Madueke before a Nigerian court, including an order directing the EFCC to produce her for trial.
It further said it had tracked forfeiture proceedings involving properties and other assets allegedly connected to the former minister.
According to HEDA, Alison-Madueke had also challenged efforts by the EFCC to dispose of some forfeited assets, underscoring the distinction between criminal prosecution and civil or other asset-recovery proceedings.
The group stressed that the outcome of a criminal prosecution does not automatically settle the question of assets involved in separate forfeiture or recovery proceedings.
HEDA called on the EFCC and other agencies to examine the available evidence independently and pursue cases that remain legally and evidentially viable.
At the same time, it urged the authorities to respect fundamental safeguards, including fair hearing and protection against double jeopardy.
The organisation also warned against allowing foreign judicial decisions to become the basis for determining whether corruption allegations involving Nigerians should be investigated or prosecuted domestically.
HEDA said Nigeria needed stronger investigative institutions, better evidence-gathering systems and improved international cooperation to tackle corruption cases involving assets moved across borders.
It noted that the Alison-Madueke case had involved an international dimension, with previous proceedings concerning properties and other assets linked to her in the UK and US.
The organisation consequently called for Nigerian authorities to clearly disclose the status of outstanding corruption cases and asset-recovery proceedings involving the former minister.
HEDA also demanded transparency in the handling of recovered and forfeited assets, insisting that Nigerians should be able to determine what has been recovered, where the assets are, how they are being managed and how recovered funds are being used.
Suraju said the ultimate measure of Nigeria’s anti-corruption system would be its ability to investigate credible allegations, prosecute evidence-based cases and recover public resources transparently for the benefit of Nigerians.