Alison-Madueke Acquitted After 13-Year UK Investigation

Diezani Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015, expressed that a 13-year investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) devastated her life and career. In an interview with the BBC, she described the prolonged probe as emotionally and psychologically distressing, despite her insistence that she committed no wrongdoing.

On Wednesday, a jury at Southwark Crown Court found her not guilty on five counts of accepting bribes and conspiracy to commit bribery, concluding a legal battle that began with her arrest in 2015. Alison-Madueke, the first female president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), claimed that crucial documents supporting her innocence disappeared and criticized both Nigerian and British authorities for their handling of the investigation.

Following her acquittal, questions remain regarding asset links to her, with the U.S. Department of Justice announcing the recovery of approximately $53 million from two oil businessmen.