A legal practitioner, Frank Tie Tie, has suggested that Nigeria’s anti corruption agencies may not have properly discharged their responsibilities during the prosecution of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison Madueke.
Tie Tie made the assertion on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television shortly after Alison Madueke was acquitted.
A court in the United Kingdom on Wednesday cleared Alison Madueke of all charges brought against her.
Reacting to the verdict, Tie Tie argued that the former minister’s lavish lifestyle alone was not sufficient proof of bribery, adding that the court considered a wide range of factors before reaching its decision.
“The former minister’s luxurious lifestyle does not mean bribery. She proved her case, and a wide range of factors were considered, which is why the prosecution ultimately failed.
“It is possible that something went wrong in the process, and that our anti corruption agencies, prosecutors, and investigators may not have carried out their duties properly.
“Back home here in Nigeria, many Nigerians believe that she should be crucified because she had already been found guilty, given all the assets that were seized from her, and all of that, but we forget that this is a criminal trial.
“The jury of the Crown Court didn’t believe that the prosecution proved all of those elements of the offenses against her. They didn’t believe that they were proven beyond reasonable doubt.”
