The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has said that former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke’s acquittal by a United Kingdom court should not signal an end to corruption investigations and asset-recovery proceedings against her in Nigeria.
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In a statement, HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju said the verdict — delivered by a Southwark Crown Court jury on June 17 — should be respected as a ruling specifically on the bribery charges brought against her in the UK. However, he stressed that the outcome does not automatically extend to separate legal proceedings and asset-recovery cases pursued under Nigerian law.
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HEDA called on the Nigerian government, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to continue pursuing any viable cases backed by credible evidence, in line with due process and the rule of law.
The organisation emphasized that criminal prosecution and asset recovery are distinct legal processes, noting that an acquittal in a criminal trial doesn’t necessarily determine the status of assets tied to separate forfeiture proceedings.
Alison-Madueke was found not guilty on six bribery-related charges in the UK following a trial that lasted five months. She remains involved in separate proceedings in Nigeria concerning assets linked to her name.
HEDA further argued that Nigeria should not look to foreign courts to decide whether corruption allegations against Nigerians warrant domestic action. The group also called for greater transparency from Nigerian authorities regarding the status, location, and management of any assets recovered or forfeited in connection with the former minister.
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