Lagos: A UK-based anti-corruption campaigner, Helen Taylor, emphasized that the recent acquittal of former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in a UK court does not impede Nigerian authorities from pursuing their separate corruption investigations against her.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Taylor, who is affiliated with Spotlight on Corruption, made this statement during a webinar organized to analyze the implications of the UK court’s decision on Alison-Madueke. The event was hosted by the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) alongside other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court acquitted Alison-Madueke on all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy. Despite this, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria continues to investigate her tenure as the Minister of Petroleum Resources under President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, during which investigators allege that up to 20 billion dollars left the country.
Taylor elaborated that the UK case was restricted to specific charges and evidence and did not encompass all the allegations being examined by Nigerian investigators. She stressed that the UK judgment should not be misconstrued as an end to all potential legal actions regarding Alison-Madueke in Nigeria. She noted that Nigerian authorities could still pursue matters based on credible evidence.
Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), concurred that the UK judgment should not halt investigations or prosecutions in Nigeria. He highlighted that the evidence and charges in both jurisdictions were not necessarily identical and urged Nigerian authorities to carefully examine the UK judgment to identify issues not covered.
Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of ANEEJ, emphasized that the UK judgment should not be seen as a comprehensive clearance of all allegations against Alison-Madueke. He called for Nigerian authorities to independently evaluate available evidence and ensure transparency in any prosecution or asset-recovery efforts.
Legal expert Ilemona Onoja explained that the principle of double jeopardy does not preclude Nigeria from prosecuting separate offenses not addressed in the UK case. Similarly, Prof. Simeon Igbinedion of the University of Lagos urged Nigeria to strengthen its investigative and asset-recovery mechanisms and pursue international cooperation where necessary.
The webinar, organized by ANEEJ, CISLAC, and other civil society organizations, aimed to offer journalists a comprehensive understanding of the UK judgment and its ramifications for Nigeria. Participants called for improved evidence gathering by Nigerian agencies and sustained media scrutiny of the case’s handling, from investigations to asset recovery.