CISLAC calls for stronger domestic accountability after UK court acquits Diezani
By KEMI KASUMU
According to the organisation, the acquittal does not diminish concerns about governance failures and systemic weaknesses exposed during the trial, particularly in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector between 2011 and 2015.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) has reacted to the recent verdict of the Southwark Crown Court in London, which acquitted former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of all six bribery and conspiracy charges.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the organisation described the outcome as a significant setback to international anti-corruption deterrence efforts, while emphasizing the need for Nigeria to strengthen its domestic accountability systems.
CISLAC said it respects the unanimous decision reached by the United Kingdom jury after 46 hours of deliberation but noted that the verdict should serve as a wake-up call for Nigerian authorities to pursue justice through local institutions.
According to the organisation, the acquittal does not diminish concerns about governance failures and systemic weaknesses exposed during the trial, particularly in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector between 2011 and 2015.
“The verdict underscores the challenges associated with securing criminal convictions against politically exposed persons based largely on circumstantial lifestyle evidence,” CISLAC stated. It noted that prosecutors were unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt that benefits allegedly received by the former minister, including luxury properties, private jet travel, and expensive shopping expenses, were directly linked to abuse of public office.
The organisation questioned why allegations connected to actions allegedly committed while Alison-Madueke served in public office have not been conclusively addressed by Nigerian institutions.
CISLAC also observed that the case highlighted the role of major international financial centres as destinations for illicit financial flows, unexplained wealth, and money laundering through luxury real estate and professional intermediaries.
While commending the collaboration between international anti-corruption agencies and Nigeria’s 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 added.
To strengthen accountability and rebuild public confidence in anti-corruption efforts, CISLAC urged the EFCC and the Nigerian judiciary to ensure that all outstanding civil and criminal cases involving Alison-Madueke are diligently pursued to their lawful conclusion.
The organisation also called for stronger investigations and due diligence processes to ensure corruption cases are supported by credible and admissible evidence capable of securing convictions. It further advocated reforms within the judiciary and the energy sector to reduce reliance on foreign jurisdictions for accountability and limit excessive discretion in contract administration and approvals.
In addition, CISLAC urged authorities to prioritise civil asset recovery mechanisms and proceeds-of-crime legislation to facilitate the recovery of contested assets, noting that civil proceedings generally require a lower evidentiary threshold than criminal prosecutions.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance, CISLAC called on Nigerian authorities to draw lessons from the UK trial and strengthen domestic anti-corruption institutions to better safeguard national resources.
