RismadarVoice Reporters
September 13, 2026
Civil society organisations have called for the continuation of legal proceedings involving former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in Nigeria following her acquittal by a court in the United Kingdom.
The organisations said the outcome of the UK criminal case should not automatically bring to an end separate proceedings before Nigerian courts, particularly those relating to assets allegedly connected to the former minister.
The groups made the demand during a virtual press briefing attended by representatives of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, Spotlight on Corruption and CornerHouse UK.
Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said criminal proceedings and asset recovery cases serve different legal purposes and should not be treated as identical processes.
He explained that while a criminal trial determines whether an accused person is guilty of specific offences, asset recovery proceedings are concerned with establishing the ownership, legitimacy or legal status of particular assets.
Ugolor said the distinction was particularly important in relation to proceedings in Nigeria involving assets allegedly linked to Alison-Madueke.
He maintained that the former minister’s acquittal in the United Kingdom should not, by itself, determine the outcome of proceedings before Nigerian courts, which are subject to Nigerian laws and judicial procedures.
According to him, the Nigerian authorities should be allowed to pursue outstanding matters through the appropriate legal channels, while ensuring that the rights of all parties are respected.
Ugolor also called for greater transparency in the management of assets recovered or forfeited in corruption-related cases.
He said members of the public should have access, where legally permissible, to reliable information on recovered assets, including their location, status and how they are being managed.
He expressed concern that it remained difficult for Nigerians to establish the whereabouts and current status of some assets associated with high-profile recovery proceedings.
Ugolor further disclosed that the Federal High Court in July 2026 allowed Alison-Madueke to rely on the UK judgment as evidence in an ongoing Nigerian asset forfeiture case.
He said the case had been adjourned until October 6, 2026, and stressed that the Nigerian proceedings should be allowed to proceed independently in accordance with the law.
Also speaking during the briefing, Chairman and Executive Director of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraju, urged Nigerian authorities to continue addressing outstanding legal and accountability issues arising from Alison-Madueke’s tenure as petroleum minister.
Suraju called for the relevant matters to be handled through established judicial and institutional processes, rather than being determined solely by the outcome of proceedings in another jurisdiction.
The CSOs said the UK judgment should be properly considered within the Nigerian legal process but should not automatically terminate proceedings that concern different allegations, assets or legal questions.
They urged government agencies responsible for investigation, prosecution and asset recovery to maintain due process while ensuring that cases are handled without undue delay.
The organisations also called for improved public disclosure of recovered and forfeited assets, arguing that transparency is essential to maintaining public confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption and asset-recovery efforts.
They said authorities should provide information on assets subject to recovery proceedings whenever disclosure is permitted by law, while ensuring that ongoing judicial proceedings are not compromised.
The groups reiterated their call for accountability, transparency and respect for the rule of law in all cases involving alleged corruption and public assets, saying that every outstanding proceeding should be allowed to reach its lawful conclusion.
