Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has broken her silence after a London court acquitted her of all bribery-related charges, describing the nearly 11-year legal process as a difficult and emotional journey for her family and close associates.
Speaking in a video broadcast by News Central on Wednesday, the former minister expressed gratitude to God and those who stood by her throughout the prolonged legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
“I’m just thankful to God. It’s been a very, very arduous and long, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, for friends, for all those who have stayed and supported, for my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt, for my son, and for all those who love us, friends and family.
“We’re surrounded by friends here. So it has been a hard journey.”
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015, also maintained that she carried out her duties with integrity while in office.
“But I tell you this, God will always do as God wills, and God will be God. God is not a man that he should lie. So when he promises you something, he will see it through. It has been almost 11 years since I’ve been here. I did my job to the best of my ability, but like I said, God is not a man that he should lie,” she added.
Her reaction came shortly after London’s Southwark Crown Court cleared her of six bribery charges following a high-profile trial.
The 65-year-old former minister had faced five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, all of which she denied.
Prosecutors had alleged that she received luxury benefits in London from individuals in the oil and gas sector seeking business opportunities in Nigeria. However, the court ultimately acquitted her of all the charges.
