A group, Ijaw Women Advocates for Justice, has called for adherence to due process and fairness in the ongoing judicial proceedings in the United Kingdom involving former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
In a press statement issued on behalf of the group, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, said the organisation was neither defending nor condemning any individual, but was committed to upholding the principles of justice.
The group cautioned against what it described as the growing trend of trying individuals in the court of public opinion while legal processes are still ongoing, warning that such actions could undermine the integrity of the judicial system.
According to the statement, every individual is entitled to a fair hearing, due process, and the presumption of innocence, stressing that these are fundamental rights rather than privileges.
The group noted that Alison-Madueke’s past roles, including her position as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, her leadership career in Shell, and her emergence as the first female President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), require that the matter be handled with seriousness and balance.
“As Ijaw women, we stand in solidarity not to shield wrongdoing, but to insist that justice must be done properly, lawfully, and without prejudice,” the statement said.
The group also warned against media sensationalism, selective narratives, and what it termed the weaponisation of public opinion, insisting that justice should not be influenced by headlines or speculation.
It urged that the judicial process be allowed to run its full course, with evidence presented and evaluated in court, rather than in the public domain.
The statement concluded with a call for dignity, fairness, and respect for the rule of law, emphasizing that no individual should be condemned before judgment or absolved outside the legal process.
