Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke says years of investigations by British authorities left lasting emotional and professional scars despite a court ruling that cleared her of bribery allegations. Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has accused British investigators of ruining her reputation during a prolonged corruption investigation that ultimately ended in her acquittal. The former OPEC […]
Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke says years of investigations by British authorities left lasting emotional and professional scars despite a court ruling that cleared her of bribery allegations.
Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has accused British investigators of ruining her reputation during a prolonged corruption investigation that ultimately ended in her acquittal.
The former OPEC president made the remarks during a BBC interview after a UK court found her not guilty of bribery related offences following a high profile trial.
Alison-Madueke said the investigation, which lasted more than a decade, had a profound impact on her life, restricting her movements and limiting her ability to pursue professional opportunities.
She stated that she always believed the allegations against her would not stand because she had not committed the offences she was accused of.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that she benefited from gifts and services provided by oil businessmen connected to government contracts. Her legal team, however, argued that important evidence supporting her innocence was no longer available.
According to Alison-Madueke, some of the missing documents were taken from her Abuja home by security personnel years ago, and she has no knowledge of their whereabouts.
She further criticised the investigation process, suggesting that authorities overlooked the political realities surrounding her tenure and failed to acknowledge her anti corruption efforts within the petroleum sector.
The former minister also indicated that she may revisit issues surrounding assets previously recovered or forfeited in cases linked to her, insisting that those assets were not directly traced to her ownership.