The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) have described the acquittal of former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke by a United Kingdom court as a setback for global anti-corruption efforts, while calling on Nigerian authorities to strengthen domestic accountability mechanisms.
In a statement signed by Executive Director Auwal Ibrahim Musa, the organisation said it respects the unanimous verdict delivered by a jury at the Southwark Crown Court in London after 46 hours of deliberation. However, it argued that the outcome should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria to improve its anti-corruption framework and ensure justice is pursued through local institutions.
CISLAC noted that the verdict does not erase concerns about governance failures and systemic weaknesses exposed during proceedings linked to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector between 2011 and 2015.
According to the organisation, the case highlighted the difficulties prosecutors face in securing convictions against politically exposed persons when relying largely on circumstantial evidence. It said the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that alleged benefits received by Alison-Madueke, including luxury properties, private jet travel and high-end shopping expenses, were directly connected to abuse of public office.
The group questioned why allegations relating to actions allegedly committed while serving in public office in Nigeria have not been conclusively addressed by Nigerian institutions.
CISLAC also said the case demonstrated how major international financial centres can become destinations for illicit financial flows, unexplained wealth and money laundering through luxury property investments and professional intermediaries.
While commending cooperation between international anti-corruption agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during the investigation, the organisation 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 said.
CISLAC’s Recommendations
To strengthen accountability and restore public confidence, CISLAC urged the EFCC and the judiciary to:
- Pursue all outstanding civil and criminal cases involving Alison-Madueke to their lawful conclusion.
- Improve investigations and due diligence to ensure corruption cases are supported by credible and admissible evidence.
- Reduce reliance on foreign jurisdictions by implementing reforms in the judiciary and energy sector, including measures to curb excessive discretion in contract approvals and administration.
- Prioritise civil asset recovery and proceeds-of-crime legislation to enhance the recovery of disputed assets.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in public governance, urging Nigerian authorities to draw lessons from the UK trial and strengthen institutions responsible for safeguarding public resources.
