Diezani Alison-Madueke has spoken for the first time since a London jury cleared her of bribery charges, saying the nearly 11-year investigation by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) destroyed her reputation, restricted her freedom, and left deep psychological scars.
In an interview with the BBC, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources under President Goodluck Jonathan said the NCA probe turned her life upside down — even though she was never convicted. “I haven't been allowed to travel. I haven't been allowed to work. They destroyed my reputation and my integrity,” she said.
Alison-Madueke was arrested in London in 2015 but wasn't formally charged until 2023. She faced five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, accused of taking luxury gifts and benefits from oil industry figures in exchange for lucrative contracts in Nigeria.
Last week, a jury at Southwark Crown Court acquitted her on all counts. Her brother, Doye Agama, and oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde were also cleared, ending one of the longest-running international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian official.
“When your freedom is taken away from you, it has a very deep impact upon you psychologically,” Alison-Madueke said. “I knew that I had never done anything nefarious and I had never done any of the heinous things I was being accused of doing.”
She criticised how the investigation was handled, saying it “could have been handled a lot differently.” Asked who was to blame for the failed prosecution, she replied: “There's a bit of blame everywhere.”
The former minister, who also served as the first female president of OPEC, said she now plans to review several asset forfeiture proceedings linked to her name. She claimed she was never allowed to challenge some of the allegations because she hadn't been charged in those matters.
“I haven't been allowed to travel. I haven't been allowed to work. They destroyed my reputation and my integrity.”
The case has been a major topic in Nigeria, where many saw the UK investigation as a rare attempt to hold a powerful former official accountable. Alison-Madueke's acquittal has sparked debate about the effectiveness of cross-border anti-corruption efforts and the toll they take on the accused.
She urged both Nigerian authorities and foreign law enforcement agencies to adopt greater sensitivity when dealing with politically exposed individuals involved in cross-border cases. “When your freedom is taken away from you, it has a very deep impact upon you psychologically,” she repeated.
Alison-Madueke's legal ordeal is over, but she says the damage to her reputation and her family's life will take much longer to repair.