Diezani Alison-Madueke Blames Cabals and Misogyny for UK Ordeal

Diezani Alison-Madueke has finally spoken out after her UK court acquittal, telling the BBC that the corruption accusations against her were orchestrated by cabals who did not want a woman in power. She said, "I be di first female to enta dat kain position as petroleum minister and as head of OPEC for veri misogynistic society." The woman who once led OPEC and served as Nigeria's petroleum minister under Goodluck Jonathan insists her efforts to fight corruption in the oil sector angered powerful interests.

She lamented that 13 years of trial broke her reputation and integrity, saying, "Wen dem take your freedom away from you, no matter how you wan handle am, e get impact on you psychologically." While she did not specifically blame the UK or Nigerian government, she said both sides should have handled the case better — especially the National Crime Agency, which she wished had scrutinised the information from Nigeria more carefully. The question now is: if the court cleared her, who really fed the NCA the evidence that wasted over a decade of her life?