Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all charges brought against her by a UK court, bringing to an end an 11-year legal battle that attracted significant public attention and scrutiny.
In a statement released on Wednesday following the ruling at Southwark Crown Court, Allison-Madueke expressed relief and gratitude, describing the verdict as a complete vindication after more than a decade of what she called “unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny.”
“Today, at Southwark Crown Court, I was acquitted of all charges brought against me,” she said. “For eleven arduous years, this matter has weighed heavily upon me and my family. Today, a decade of unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny has finally concluded.”
The former minister thanked God, her legal team, family, and friends for standing by her throughout the prolonged legal process.
“I give thanks to Almighty God for His faithfulness and for the complete vindication I have received. I am grateful to my legal counsel for their diligence, and to my family and friends for their steadfast support and encouragement throughout this period,” she stated.
Allison-Madueke said she was profoundly relieved by the outcome and emphasized that her name had now been cleared.
“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end,” she added.
While celebrating the court’s decision, the former minister indicated that she would speak further about the experience and her future plans at a later date.
“This, however, is not the final chapter. In due course, I shall address this difficult period in greater detail and share my intentions for the future. For now, I intend to embrace the freedom that has been unjustly denied me for many years,” she said.
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