Nigeria’s House of Representatives has referred to its Committee on Public Petitions the issue surrounding the continued inclusion of Nigerian businessman Benedict Peters in allegations by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The allegations concern alleged unlawful property ownership in London and financial dealings involving former Petroleum Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke, despite Peters’ exoneration by Nigerian courts.
The referral follows a petition presented on Wednesday by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere, where he highlighted that multiple Nigerian court rulings have cleared Peters of any involvement in the former minister’s case. He called for urgent legislative action to protect judicial pronouncements and ensure Peters is removed from all pending allegations.
“The disregard for Nigerian court rulings by UK authorities is deeply disturbing. We must preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system, uphold judicial sovereignty, and prevent attempts to misuse foreign courts against innocent Nigerian citizens,” he said.
Ugochinyere stressed the need for swift intervention under the Foreign Judgment (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act, 2004, noting Peters’ judicial vindication:
“Mr. Peters has been cleared of any allegations relating to unlawful ownership, acquisition, or financial dealings connected to Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in exchange for favors in crude oil contracts.”
He referenced a July 18, 2025 letter from the Special Prosecutor of the Serious Economic and Organised Crime Directorate, Mrs. E. C. Davies, which justified Peters’ inclusion in Counts 2 and 3 of the indictment, arguing that Nigerian courts’ attempts to influence the CPS were “ultra vires” and “a breach of UK sovereign jurisdiction.”
Ugochinyere contrasted this with an earlier CPS letter dated May 7, 2025, which acknowledged that Peters and his companies “should be removed from the restraint order.” He condemned the continued inclusion of Peters as:
“An unacceptable weaponization of the criminal justice system, contrary to international standards of fairness.”
He called for immediate amendment of the indictment under Section 5(1) of the Indictments Act, 1915 to remove Peters’ name, emphasizing that all allegations against him have been judicially resolved in his favor.
“Judgments of Nigerian courts must be respected internationally. No government or authority, including the United Kingdom, has the power to disregard them. The judicial sovereignty of Nigeria, enshrined in the Constitution, is not negotiable and must be upheld worldwide,” Ugochinyere stated.
The Committee on Public Petitions is expected to report back to the House within four weeks. The inquiry will summon representatives from the British Crime Agency, CPS, EFCC, the Attorney General, and Peters or his representatives to testify.
About the Author
