FORMER NIGERIAN OIL MINISTER DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE ACQUITTED IN UK CORRUPTION CASE

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been found not guilty of six bribery-related charges by a London jury following a high-profile corruption trial.

Alison-Madueke, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, was tried on five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, all of which she denied.

Prosecutors had alleged that the 65-year-old former minister received lavish benefits in London from oil and gas industry figures seeking favourable contracts in Nigeria, a country long challenged by corruption and governance issues.

However, Alison-Madueke maintained that she never accepted bribes and insisted she had no direct influence over the awarding of government contracts.

After deliberating for more than 46 hours at Southwark Crown Court, the jury acquitted her of all six charges.

The verdict marks a setback for UK authorities, who launched investigations into the allegations over a decade ago.

She stood trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who faced bribery charges linked to dealings involving Alison-Madueke, and her brother, Doye Agama, accused of conspiracy to commit bribery connected to payments made to a church.

Both Ayinde and Agama also denied the allegations and were cleared by the court.