BRIBERY CHARGES: LONDON COURT ACQUITS EX-NIGERIAN OIL MINISTER DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE 

BRIBERY CHARGES: LONDON COURT ACQUITS EX-NIGERIAN OIL MINISTER DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE

The Southwark Crown Court in London has acquitted former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of six counts bordering on bribery allegations.

The verdict followed a closely watched corruption trial described as one of the rare prosecutions involving a former high-ranking energy official, concluding after extensive proceedings at the Southwark Crown Court.

British authorities had launched investigations into the allegations against Alison-Madueke more than a decade ago, focusing on claims of bribery and abuse of office during her tenure as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Prosecutors alleged that the former minister benefited from a “life of luxury” in London, reportedly linked to oil and gas industry figures seeking access to lucrative Nigerian contracts. She was accused of receiving bribes and conspiracy to commit bribery across six counts.

However, Alison-Madueke consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that she neither received bribes nor had direct influence over contract awards. Her legal team argued that expenditures referenced by the prosecution were either official reimbursements by the Nigerian state or legitimate expenses incurred in the course of duty. She also maintained she was widely regarded as “Madame Due Process.”

After a trial that began in January, the jury returned a not-guilty verdict following more than 46 hours of deliberation.

In a statement, her lawyer expressed gratitude to the jury and said she had “unnecessarily endured the ordeal of being separated from her family over 11 years.”

With the verdict, Alison-Madueke is expected to resume her private life, with her legal team asserting that her reputation has now been cleared following years of legal battles.

Source NTA