Chude Jideonwo Appeals Court Ruling Banning Diezani Alison-Madueke Docu-Series ‘Is It Your Money?’

A Nigerian TV host, filmmaker, and media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo has filed an appeal in a higher court challenging a controversial court ruling in favour of former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.

A Bayelsa State High Court ruled on April 19 that Jideonwo and producers of the documentary “Is It Your Money” must pay N500 million in damages to Alison-Madueke. The documentary investigated corruption during her tenure under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Alison-Madueke claimed the series defamed her. Jideonwo stated that the court made its decision without hearing from the defendants.

The ruling, issued in Bayelsa State, reportedly restrained the release of a docu-series titled “Is It Your Money?”, which critically explores Alison-Madueke’s political and financial legacy.

Jideonwo, co-founder of Red Africa, made the announcement on Wednesday via his Facebook page, expressing concern that a court judgement could be issued against five media entities without proper legal notification or opportunity to respond.

“We have filed an appeal in a higher court against the judgement given in Diezani’s favour in Bayelsa without our knowledge,” he wrote.

“We are sorry you can’t watch the docu-series on withChude.com at this time. But we will fight this to the finish and you will eventually see Parts 1 – 4 of this series by the grace of God.”

“This is a tough continent to do important work against powerful people. But we are just getting started,” he added.

In a previous post, Chude asked, “What kind of country is it where a person can secure a court judgement against five entities without serving them court processes or affording them the opportunity of responding to an action in court?”

Alison-Madueke, who fled Nigeria nearly a decade ago amid multiple corruption allegations, is currently awaiting trial in the United Kingdom.

According to Jideonwo, despite her absence, she still has a significant influence in Bayelsa, where the court order was issued.

The docu-series, streamed on withChude.com, has been temporarily removed pending the outcome of the legal battle. Parts 1 and 2 had already been released before the court ruling halted further publication.

Jideonwo described the series as a fair and painstakingly produced investigation, stating that all parties involved were contacted and given the opportunity to respond.

Meanwhile, he secured an exclusive interview with Alison-Madueke in London after months of effort and significant financial investment.

He also alleged that attempts were made to threaten and silence him before the legal action, vowing to resist what he called an attack on press freedom and independent journalism in Nigeria.

He continued, “And that is exactly what we (are) exposing in ‘Is It Your Money?’. That’s the story we are telling here. That is why this series is so important.

“But this is a fight we have been prepared for. I am happy to take on this fight and this attack on me, my work and my fundamental freedom of expression on behalf of independent journalists and creators across Nigeria, and our continent.

“We were responsible and fair in this documentary. We made painstakingly clear what was alleged and what was confirmed – even ‘over-doing’ it in certain instances. We also did not release it until we had contacted every person involved directly, through their lawyers or through their representatives.

“We waited 6 months until we had an exclusive interview with Diezani herself before we concluded. We went to London and spent a month, with considerable financial resources, to secure an interview to get her own side of the story.

“She may have said self-incriminating things in that interview which we have published in Part 4, but trying to bully and intimidate me in order to stop that from reaching the public is not the way to solve that problem.

“Sending people to me to threaten me, to bully me and when that failed, using the courts in her home state to silence me is not going to work.”