The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has described the acquittal of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke by a London court as a reminder of Nigeria’s urgent need to strengthen its anti-corruption and judicial systems.
In a statement by Executive Director Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), CISLAC said while it respects the verdict of the Southwark Crown Court, the outcome underscores the weaknesses in Nigeria’s domestic accountability mechanisms.
“The acquittal does not erase the systemic governance failures and accountability gaps that characterised Nigeria’s oil and gas sector during the period under review,” Rafsanjani noted.
The group highlighted the challenges of prosecuting high-level corruption cases, especially when evidence is circumstantial and based on lifestyle patterns rather than direct proof.
CISLAC urged Nigerian authorities to intensify domestic investigations and prosecutions, questioning why several allegations tied to Alison-Madueke’s tenure have not been successfully pursued in Nigeria.
While commending collaboration between foreign agencies and Nigeria’s EFCC, CISLAC blamed past political interference for stalled prosecutions.
It called on the EFCC and judiciary to diligently pursue outstanding cases against the former minister.
“Nigeria must strengthen its investigative capacity and reduce dependence on foreign jurisdictions in the pursuit of justice and accountability,” Rafsanjani added.
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