• Decade of unrelenting, unjust vilification finally concluded, says former minister

• Pledges to address matter in detail, share intentions for the future

•Jury arrived at decision after 46-hour deliberation

“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end. This, however, is not the final chapter. In due course, I shall address this difficult period in greater detail and share my intentions for the future. For now, I intend to embrace the freedom that has been unjustly denied me for many years.”

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos