The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre and Transparency International Nigeria have criticised the acquittal of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke by a UK court, describing the verdict as a setback to global anti-corruption efforts and a reflection of weaknesses in Nigeria’s accountability systems.
In a statement, the organisations said the judgment delivered by the Southwark Crown Court should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria to strengthen its domestic anti-corruption institutions and accountability mechanisms.
According to CISLAC and TI-Nigeria, the outcome highlights the challenges of prosecuting complex corruption cases across jurisdictions and underscores the need for stronger investigations, evidence gathering, and institutional reforms.
The UK court last week acquitted Alison-Madueke of six counts of bribery and conspiracy after jurors deliberated for more than 46 hours.
The former minister, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, had been accused of receiving lavish benefits from oil and gas industry figures in exchange for influence over government decisions and contract awards.
However, Alison-Madueke consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that she neither accepted bribes nor exercised direct control over the award of contracts. The jury subsequently found her not guilty on all six counts.
Reacting to the verdict, CISLAC and TI-Nigeria stressed that while court decisions must be respected, the ruling reinforces the need for Nigeria to improve transparency, strengthen anti-corruption agencies, and build more effective systems for investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.
