Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has congratulated Diezani Alison-Madueke after a London jury acquitted the ex-Nigerian petroleum minister of all corruption charges
Ben Bruce Reacts as Diezani Wins London Acquittal, Defends Rule of Law
Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has congratulated former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, following her acquittal by a London jury in a long-running corruption trial that drew global attention and intense public scrutiny.
Reacting to the verdict, Murray-Bruce said the outcome underscores the importance of the rule of law over public sentiment or political pressure, insisting that justice must always be allowed to take its full course.
“Justice must always be celebrated, regardless of public opinion or political sentiment,” he said.
He added: “I congratulate my sister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on her acquittal by a London jury after a lengthy legal process. The verdict is a reminder that in any democracy governed by the rule of law, every individual is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial.”
Murray-Bruce expressed hope that the judgment would bring long-awaited closure to a case that has lasted more than a decade, wishing the former minister and her family well.
“May this bring closure to a chapter that has lasted more than a decade. My best wishes to her and her family,” he added.
The verdict was delivered at Southwark Crown Court in London, where jurors found Alison-Madueke not guilty on all six charges brought against her by British prosecutors after years of investigation and legal proceedings. She had consistently denied all allegations.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015 and became the first female president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), faced five counts of receiving bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Prosecutors had alleged she accepted luxury benefits in exchange for facilitating oil and gas contracts, claims she repeatedly rejected.
During the trial, she maintained that she neither requested nor accepted bribes, arguing that she lacked the level of influence over contract awards as alleged by the prosecution. Her legal team also insisted that procurement processes, not personal discretion, determined official approvals.
The acquittal brings to a close one of the most high-profile international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official, ending years of legal battles, investigations and global media attention.
