Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke says she can finally investigate what became of assets and properties linked to her, following her acquittal in a UK corruption trial.

A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London cleared her on Wednesday of five counts of accepting bribes and conspiracy to commit bribery, ending a 13-year investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency.

In an interview with the BBC, Diezani questioned previous asset recovery claims made by Nigerian and foreign authorities. She said some of the assets reported as forfeited were not directly traced to her.

“The assets that have been forfeited were not actually traced directly to me,” she said. “I don’t know what has happened to these matters at all. It’s now that I’ll have the freedom to find out what exactly has gone on there.”

She also addressed a 2023 US Department of Justice action that recovered about $53 million in assets tied to two oil businessmen mentioned during her trial. She noted she was never charged in relation to those assets and had no chance to contest the allegations.

“I was never given the opportunity to fight that because I wasn’t even charged,” she said.

Prosecutors had alleged that Diezani received benefits from oil businessmen holding government contracts, including luxury goods, chauffeur-driven cars, and access to high-value UK properties. But she, her brother Doye Agama, and oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde were all acquitted.

Diezani described the long-running case as damaging to her reputation and personal freedom. She said it restricted her travel, prevented her from working, and took a deep psychological toll.

“When your freedom is taken away from you, it has a very deep impact upon you psychologically,” she said. “I knew that I had never done anything nefarious and I had never done any of the heinous things I was being accused of doing.”

She also claimed that vital defense documents went missing in Nigeria, including receipts showing she had reimbursed payments allegedly made on her behalf. According to her, the documents were taken from her Abuja residence by intelligence forces in 2015.

Diezani criticised both Nigerian and British authorities over the handling of the case, calling for better processes and more sensitivity in politically charged cross-border investigations.

“The long arm of the law, when you go into other countries, particularly in politically motivated cases, needs to have a lot more sensitivity,” she said.

She suggested her position as the first female petroleum minister and head of OPEC may have made her a target.

The NCA responded by affirming that the investigation was thorough, in-depth, and impartial. A spokesperson said a comprehensive file of evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, and the agency respects the jury’s decision.