Diezani: CISLAC urges FG to pursue outstanding cases

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that all outstanding civil and criminal cases involving former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, are diligently pursued despite her recent acquittal by a London court. In a statement on Tuesday by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa […]

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that all outstanding civil and criminal cases involving former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, are diligently pursued despite her recent acquittal by a London court.
In a statement on Tuesday by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the organisation described the verdict of the Southwark Crown Court in London, which cleared her of six bribery and conspiracy charges, as a setback to international anti-corruption deterrence efforts.
Diezani, who served as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015, has faced multiple corruption allegations in Nigeria and abroad since leaving office.
Last week, a UK jury unanimously acquitted her after 46 hours of deliberation, finding her not guilty of charges linked to alleged benefits including luxury properties, private jet travel and expensive shopping.
Reacting to the judgment, CISLAC said it respected the decision of the UK court but insisted that the outcome should compel Nigerian authorities to strengthen domestic accountability mechanisms and pursue justice through local institutions.
CISLAC noted that the acquittal did not erase concerns about governance failures and systemic weaknesses exposed during the period under review, particularly in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector between 2011 and 2015.
It questioned why allegations relating to actions allegedly committed while Diezani held public office had yet to be conclusively addressed by Nigerian institutions.
The organisation also observed that the case highlighted how major international financial centres can become destinations for illicit financial flows, unexplained wealth and money laundering through luxury real estate and professional intermediaries.
While commending cooperation between international anti-corruption agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), CISLAC criticised what it described as a lack of political will that initially hindered 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 statement added.
‎To strengthen accountability and restore public confidence, the group called on the EFCC and the judiciary to pursue all outstanding cases involving Diezani, improve investigations and evidence-gathering processes, reduce dependence on foreign jurisdictions through institutional reforms, and prioritise civil asset recovery mechanisms and proceeds-of-crime legislation.‎
‎CISLAC reiterated its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in governance, urging Nigerian authorities to draw lessons from the UK trial to strengthen anti-corruption institutions and safeguard national resources.