Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been cleared of all bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom following a high-profile corruption trial in London.
Alison-Madueke, who served as petroleum minister under former President Goodluck Jonathanbetween 2010 and 2015, faced six criminal charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
The former minister consistently denied all allegations throughout the proceedings, maintaining that she neither accepted bribes nor exercised direct influence over the awarding of government oil and gas contracts.
Prosecutors alleged that Alison-Madueke, 65, enjoyed what they described as “a life of luxury” in London, funded by oil and gas executives seeking access to lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
According to the prosecution, the benefits she allegedly received were linked to efforts by industry figures to secure business advantages during her tenure in office.
However, after a lengthy trial at the Southwark Crown Court, a jury found her not guilty on all six counts. The verdict was delivered after jurors spent more than 46 hours deliberating on the case.
The acquittal marks a significant setback for British authorities, whose investigation into corruption allegations involving Alison-Madueke began more than a decade ago.
The former minister, who also briefly served as President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, was one of the most prominent figures to face prosecution under the long-running investigation.
Also acquitted was oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who had been charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another count involving the alleged bribery of a foreign public official.
In addition, Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, was cleared of conspiracy to commit bribery charges connected to payments allegedly made to his church.
Both Ayinde and Agama had denied the allegations against them, and the jury ultimately returned not-guilty verdicts on all counts.
The verdict concludes one of the most closely watched corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official in a foreign jurisdiction.
