The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) says the acquittal of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, by a UK court is a setback to global anti-corruption efforts, urging Nigerian authorities to strengthen domestic accountability mechanisms.
In a statement issued by Auwal Musa, executive director of CISLAC and head of Transparency International Nigeria, the organisation said the verdict should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria to pursue justice through its own institutions.
A jury at the Southwark Crown Court in London recently cleared the former minister of petroleum resources of six counts of bribery and conspiracy after deliberating for 46 hours.
CISLAC said while respecting the court’s decision, the outcome does not diminish concerns about governance failures and accountability challenges in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector during the period under investigation.
“The verdict underscores the challenges associated with securing criminal convictions against politically exposed persons based largely on circumstantial lifestyle evidence,” the statement reads.
“The prosecution was unable to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the benefits allegedly received by the former minister were directly linked to abuse of public office.”
The organisation said the acquittal raises questions about why allegations relating to Alison-Madueke’s tenure in public office have not been conclusively addressed by Nigerian institutions.
CISLAC said the case highlighted the role of international financial centres as destinations for illicit financial flows, unexplained wealth and money laundering through luxury real estate and professional intermediaries.
The group commended the collaboration between international anti-corruption agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during the investigation.
However, CISLAC criticised the alleged lack of political will that undermined efforts to prosecute the former minister in Nigeria.
“The fact that foreign institutions took the lead in pursuing this matter reflects longstanding weaknesses in Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture and the inability of relevant agencies and the judiciary to effectively prosecute high-profile corruption cases,” the organisation said.
CISLAC urged the EFCC and the judiciary to ensure that all outstanding civil and criminal cases involving Alison-Madueke are diligently pursued to their conclusion.
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