UK Court Acquits Diezani Alison-Madueke of All Bribery Charges After Long-Running Trial
A jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court cleared her of six counts of bribery after more than 46 hours of deliberation. The case stemmed from allegations that she accepted bribes and conspired to commit bribery during her time as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Prosecutors alleged she received luxury benefits in London from oil and gas industry figures seeking access to lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. She denied all allegations, maintaining that she did not take bribes and had no direct role in awarding contracts.
Alison-Madueke was tried alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who faced related bribery charges, as well as her brother, Doye Agama, who was accused of conspiracy involving payments linked to his church. All defendants denied the charges.
Following the verdict, the jury acquitted all three defendants, bringing an end to a case that had been under investigation by UK authorities for more than a decade, Reuters said.
