Alison-Madueke: Ijaw Women Urge Restraint as UK Proceedings Continue

•Insist on due process, warn against sensationalism as proceedings unfold

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

A coalition of Ijaw women under the aegis of Ijaw Women Advocates for Justice has cautioned against what they described as a growing tendency to subject former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to trial in the court of public opinion.

The women who addressed a news conference in Abuja on Monday, insisted the ongoing judicial proceedings involving her in the United Kingdom must be allowed to run their full course without prejudice.

They were led by Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, OON, a distinguished Nigerian gender activist, mediator, and former Federal Permanent Secretary with over 45 years of experience in public service, who is also a conflict resolution expert, particularly in the Niger Delta region.

She was joined by Dame Julie Donli, OON; Princess Rosemary John-Oduone; Hon. Dr. Stella Ayamara Dorgu and Chief Dr. Mrs. Duenize Ogon, among others.

Addressing journalists on behalf of her colleagues, Koripamo-Agary said the group had closely monitored developments surrounding the case with “vigilance, restraint, and clarity,” stressing its intervention was driven not by sentiment but by a commitment to justice and fairness.

Koripamo-Agary said, “We are not here to defend or condemn any individual. We are here to defend principle. The ongoing proceedings in the United Kingdom must remain exactly what they are — a judicial process, not a public spectacle.”

The group warned that attempts to prejudge the outcome of the case through media narratives and public commentary could undermine the integrity of the judicial system.

They added that every individual is entitled to fundamental legal protections.

“We reject the growing tendency to try individuals in the court of public opinion while legal processes are still underway. That path undermines justice itself,” it stated.

According to the group, the rights to fair hearing, due process and presumption of innocence are not privileges but inalienable rights that must be respected irrespective of an individual’s past public office or reputation.

The Ijaw women further noted that while Alison-Madueke’s past as a public official and corporate executive places her in the spotlight, it should not become a basis for bias or prejudice.

Koripamo-Agary said, “She is not only a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, but also a woman who rose to senior leadership within Shell before serving her country.

“That history demands seriousness, balance and fairness in how this moment is handled,” they added.

Reaffirming their position, the group declared solidarity with Alison-Madueke, clarifying that such support was not intended to shield wrongdoing but to ensure that justice is administered properly and lawfully.

“As Ijaw women, we stand in solidarity — not to shield wrongdoing, but to insist that justice must be done properly, lawfully, and without prejudice,” they said.

The group also cautioned the media against sensational reporting and selective narratives, warning that such practices could distort public perception and compromise judicial integrity.

They said, “Justice must not be shaped by headlines. Let the courts do their work. Let evidence speak where it belongs. And let no individual be condemned before judgment, nor absolved outside the law.”

Alison-Madueke served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

She was the first woman to hold the position and also served as President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), becoming the first female to occupy that role.

Before her ministerial appointment, she had a long career with Shell, where she rose to senior management positions