News
I’m Fully Vindicated of 11-Year-Old Case That Tormented Me and My Family – Diezani Celebrates UK Court Acquittal
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/diezani-alison-madueke.jpg&description=I’m Fully Vindicated of 11-Year-Old Case That Tormented Me and My Family – Diezani Celebrates UK Court Acquittal', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/diezani-alison-madueke.jpg&description=I’m Fully Vindicated of 11-Year-Old Case That Tormented Me and My Family – Diezani Celebrates UK Court Acquittal', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to her acquittal of all corruption charges, on Wednesday by a United Kingdom (UK) jury.
Diezani who was found not guilty following an 11-year legal battle, is celebrating what she called “a decade of relentless vilification.”
Southwark Crown Court in London had cleared Alison-Madueke, 64, on all five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery after more than 46 hours of jury deliberations.
The verdict closes a case that began with her arrest in London in October 2015.
Speaking after the ruling, Diezani said the decision had restored her reputation.
“I am deeply relieved. My name is cleared. This nightmare is over,” she said in a statement. “I thank God Almighty for His faithfulness and for completely vindicating me.”
“For eleven long, gruelling years, this case has hung over my head and has tormented me and my family,” she added.
“Today, the past decade of relentless and unjust vilification, condemnation and scrutiny has finally come to an end.”
Prosecutors had alleged that while serving as minister under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, Alison-Madueke received more than £100,000 in benefits from oil and gas executives seeking lucrative contracts.
The benefits cited in court included private jet flights, chauffeur-driven vehicles, luxury goods, use and maintenance of a London property, and payment of her son’s school fees.
She was tried alongside co-defendants Ayinde Olatimbo Bukola and Agama Doye.
The trial began in January 2026, with Alison-Madueke maintaining her innocence throughout proceedings.
Despite the UK acquittal, legal challenges remain for the former minister in Nigeria, where she still faces pending corruption and money laundering cases.
Alison-Madueke’s tenure as petroleum minister made her the first woman to hold the position in Nigeria and later the first female president of OPEC in 2014. Her arrest in 2015 marked the start of one of the most high-profile corruption investigations involving a Nigerian public official.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Aliyu Wadada has promised to revive the committee’s activities after acknowledging concerns over its prolonged inactivity.
Wadada spoke on Thursday at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja.
Specifically, the chairman admitted that the committee had been underutilised, noting that it had met only once in the last three years.
He, however, said issues responsible for the situation had been identified during a closed-door session and would be addressed.
“Of course I feel concerned about it, but when we got into the details in a closed-door meeting, we got to know where the problems are, and they will all be taken care of. The committee will be as active as it should always be,” he said.
Commenting further, the chairman said the committee would focus on its core mandate of promoting and strengthening legislative relations between Nigeria’s National Assembly and parliamentary bodies across the world.
According to him, the committee will deepen engagement with regional and international legislative institutions, including the ECOWAS Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and other parliamentary organisations.
He disclosed that a new work plan had already been developed to guide the committee’s activities.
He added: “The direction is basically around the responsibilities of the committee, which is to promote and deepen legislative relationship within Nigeria and with other legislative bodies around the world”.
The chairman added that the committee’s first major activity would be a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation.
SINL NIgeria Online reports that Senator Wadada assured that the public would be kept informed of the committee’s activities as the new work plan is implemented.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers has increased to N100,000 after the Federal Government reviewed their welfare package.
Musa made the disclosure during an interview with News Central ahead of his appearance on the NC Exclusive programme.
He said the adjustment was part of efforts by the government to improve the living conditions of military personnel.
Executive Branch
The former Chief of Defence Staff, however, said the country’s defence sector still requires more funding despite the improvement in soldiers’ earnings and welfare.
He stated that the current defence budget remains inadequate, adding that more resources are needed to effectively support the armed forces and their operations.
Musa explained that soldiers who previously earned about N49,000 monthly now receive at least N100,000 following the salary review carried out by the government.
The minister also called for tougher punishment for kidnappers, saying stronger measures are needed to reduce the increasing cases of abduction across Nigeria.
Remodelled Abuja City Gate To Be Commissioned Today, Thursday, July 9
#ProjectsFCT2026
#FCT31DaysCommissioning
Senator Wadada promises to deepen legislative ties, stop inactivity
Just in: FG jerks up salaries soldiers to N100k monthly
DAY 22 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT
-
News18 hours ago‘Serial liar’, Presidency debunks Obi’s death threat claim
-
News18 hours agoDefence minister orders troops to shoot bandits on sight
-
News18 hours agoSenate approves customs’ N11.07tn 2026 revenue target
-
News18 hours agoInsecurity: NGF inaugurates Northern Nigerian Security Trust Fund
-
News18 hours agoEFCC Arraigns Ex-Port Harcourt Refinery MD over Money-laundering Allegations
-
News18 hours agoNSCDC deploys 1,300 personnel for Edo LG poll
-
Economy18 hours ago2024 Bid Round: NUPRC hands oil prospecting licences to 12 firms
-
News18 hours agoGroup Urges FG To Probe Alleged Threats To Peter Obi’s Life