UK COURT ACQUITS DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE OF SIX BRIBERY CHARGES

Read Time:1 Minute, 18 Second

By Aishat Momoh. O.

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of six bribery-related charges following a high-profile corruption trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Alison-Madueke, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, had faced five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

She pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors alleged that the 65-year-old received what they described as “a life of luxury” in London from figures within the oil and gas sector seeking access to lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

During the trial, Alison-Madueke rejected the allegations, maintaining that she neither accepted bribes nor exercised direct influence over the award of government contracts.

The former minister, who also briefly served as President of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, argued that the accusations against her were unfounded.

After more than 46 hours of deliberation, the jury at Southwark Crown Court returned not-guilty verdicts on all six charges.

The ruling marks a significant outcome in a case that had remained under investigation by British authorities for more than a decade.

Also acquitted was Olatimbo Ayinde, who had been charged with bribery offences connected to Alison-Madueke and an additional count relating to bribery of a foreign public official.

In addition, Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, was cleared of conspiracy to commit bribery allegations tied to alleged payments made to his church.

All three defendants denied wrongdoing throughout the proceedings and were discharged by the jury.