Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has spoken on her acquittal by a Southwark Crown Court, London, saying it is an opportunity “to embrace the freedom that has been unjustly denied me for many years.”
In a statement on her behalf by Bolouere Opukiri, the former Minister expressed joy that “a decade of unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny has finally concluded.”
She promised to “address this difficult period in greater detail and share my intentions for the future.”
The full statement reads: “Today, at Southwark Crown Court, I was acquitted of all charges brought against me.
“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.
“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.
“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end.
“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.”
