Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom, bringing to a close one of the most closely watched corruption trials involving a former Nigerian public official.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on all six counts against the 65-year-old former minister after more than 46 hours of deliberation.
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. Throughout the trial, she consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors alleged that the former minister received luxury benefits from oil and gas industry executives seeking access to lucrative energy contracts in Nigeria. They claimed she enjoyed what they described as “a life of luxury” in London in exchange for influence over contract awards.
However, Alison-Madueke maintained that she never accepted bribes and lacked the authority to directly determine the allocation of government contracts. The jury ultimately agreed, clearing her of all charges.
The verdict represents a major blow to British prosecutors, whose investigation into the former minister began more than a decade ago.
Two co-defendants were also acquitted. Oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde was cleared of charges relating to alleged bribery involving Alison-Madueke, while her brother, Doye Agama, was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery linked to alleged payments made to his church.
Alison-Madueke, who made history as the first woman to serve as President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), leaves the London courtroom vindicated after years of legal battles and intense public scrutiny.
The judgment brings an end to a case that attracted significant attention in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, with the former minister now free of all criminal charges arising from the British prosecution.
