Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery charges brought against her by British prosecutors following a closely watched corruption trial in London.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday found the former minister not guilty on six counts, including five charges of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
The verdict marks a significant legal victory for Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan and was once one of the most influential figures in the global oil industry.
British prosecutors had alleged that the 65-year-old received lavish benefits from oil and gas businessmen seeking favourable treatment and access to lucrative energy contracts in Nigeria.
According to the prosecution, the former minister enjoyed what was described as “a life of luxury” in the United Kingdom, funded by industry figures allegedly attempting to gain influence over decisions in Nigeria’s oil sector.
The case formed part of a lengthy investigation into alleged corruption linked to Nigeria’s petroleum industry, which has for years faced scrutiny over transparency and governance concerns.
However, Alison-Madueke consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the proceedings, insisting that she neither solicited nor accepted bribes from any individual or company.
She also rejected claims that she wielded direct authority over the awarding of oil and gas contracts, arguing that decisions concerning such contracts involved established government processes and institutions.
After considering the evidence presented during the trial, the jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on all six charges.
The acquittal effectively brings to a close one of the most prominent corruption trials involving a former Nigerian public official in the United Kingdom.
Alison-Madueke, who also served as President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during her tenure, became the first woman to hold the position in the oil cartel’s history.
The outcome of the case is likely to generate reactions both in Nigeria and internationally, given the former minister’s prominent role in the country’s oil industry and the years of investigations surrounding her activities while in office.
With the jury clearing her of all allegations, Alison-Madueke leaves the London court without any criminal conviction arising from the bribery case that had attracted global attention.