Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke has been acquitted of all bribery charges brought against her in a landmark corruption trial in the United Kingdom, bringing to a close a legal battle that has spanned more than a decade.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday found the 65-year-old not guilty on six counts, including five charges of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, had consistently denied the allegations throughout the proceedings.
British prosecutors alleged that she enjoyed a “life of luxury” funded by oil and gas industry figures seeking access to lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. The prosecution argued that benefits allegedly provided to the former minister included luxury accommodation, private travel and other high-value gifts.
However, Alison-Madueke maintained that she never accepted bribes and did not exercise direct control over the award of government oil contracts.
After more than 46 hours of deliberations, the jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on all six charges.
Long-drawn Trial
The verdict represents a significant setback for British authorities, whose investigation into the former minister began more than ten years ago and became one of the most high-profile foreign corruption cases pursued by UK prosecutors.
Alison-Madueke was one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s oil industry during her tenure and also served briefly as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), becoming the first woman to hold the position.
Oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who had faced one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and a separate charge of bribing a foreign public official was also found not guilty.
The former minister’s brother, Doye Agama, 69, who was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with payments allegedly made to his church, was likewise acquitted.
