Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has expressed gratitude to God following her acquittal in a United Kingdom corruption trial, describing the nearly 11-year legal battle as a traumatic experience for herself, her family and close associates.
Speaking after the verdict, the former minister said the prolonged proceedings had taken a significant emotional toll but maintained that her faith sustained her throughout the ordeal.
“I’m just thankful to God. It’s been very arduous and long, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family and friends and for my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt,” Alison-Madueke said.
“But I’ll tell you this, God will always be God. God is not a man that He should lie. When He promises you something, He will see it to the end. It was almost 11 years. I did my job to the best of my ability. But like I said, God is not a man, He will always be God.”
The verdict brings to a close one of the most closely watched international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official. British prosecutors had accused Alison-Madueke of accepting benefits from businessmen and oil industry figures during her tenure as Nigeria’s petroleum minister.
She consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that she acted within the law while serving in government.
Alison-Madueke served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
During her tenure, she oversaw Africa’s largest oil-producing industry and became one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s energy sector. She also made history as the first woman to serve as President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Following the end of the Jonathan administration in 2015, allegations of corruption and abuse of office emerged against the former minister.
She was arrested in London in October 2015 as part of an investigation by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency into suspected bribery and money laundering offences.
In Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched multiple investigations into assets allegedly linked to Alison-Madueke.
Over the years, several courts ordered the temporary and final forfeiture of cash, luxury properties, vehicles and other assets said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The former minister repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and challenged several of the allegations against her.
The case also drew international attention, with authorities in the United Kingdom and the United States pursuing asset recovery efforts involving properties and financial assets allegedly connected to corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector.
Billions of naira and millions of dollars worth of assets have been recovered through various forfeiture proceedings, although many of the claims remained the subject of legal disputes.
For many Nigerians, the allegations against Alison-Madueke became symbolic of wider concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of the country’s oil wealth.
Supporters, however, argued that she was unfairly targeted because of her prominent role in government and the politically charged environment that followed the 2015 change of administration.
With her acquittal in the UK criminal trial, Alison-Madueke said she is focused on moving forward after more than a decade of legal battles and public scrutiny.
The former minister’s comments underscore the personal impact of a case that has spanned multiple jurisdictions and remained a major talking point in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts for more than a decade.
