Traditional rulers and kinsmen of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, have called on authorities to ensure fairness and uphold the rule of law, condemning what they described as “delayed justice and baseless vilification” against her.
The monarchs, under the umbrella of the Concerned Traditional Rulers of Atissa Clan, made this call during a media briefing held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday. They expressed total support for the former oil minister and urged that her prolonged legal battles be brought to a fair and conclusive end.
Speaking on behalf of the group, HRH Ovie Omeleh, Paramount Ruler of Yenaka, said Mrs. Alison-Madueke has been under investigation in the United Kingdom for over a decade without any conviction by any court of law in Nigeria or abroad.
According to him, the prolonged investigation has become an affront to justice, stressing that a process that drags on for over ten years without a clear outcome undermines the principles of fairness and due process.
The traditional rulers demanded a fair and orderly conclusion to what they described as “a ten-year chapter of unresolved legal battles,” noting that despite extensive international and domestic investigations, no court in any major country has found the former minister guilty of any crime.
They described Diezani Alison-Madueke as a “cherished member of the royal lineage and a pillar of the Atissa Kingdom,” calling on authorities to allow the narrative surrounding her to reflect her contributions to Bayelsa State and Nigeria at large.
“The Atissa people are patient, but we are also a people who believe in justice. We will continue to stand by our daughter until this matter is resolved fairly and conclusively,” the group stated.
