UK Court Delivers Final Ruling In Diezani Corruption Trial

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all six bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom.

A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty on Wednesday after a 12-week trial that examined allegations of corruption during her tenure as Nigeria’s petroleum minister.

Alison-Madueke, who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, had consistently denied all the allegations.

The jury reached its decision after 46 hours of deliberations.

Prosecutors had accused the former minister of accepting benefits from oil and gas industry figures seeking favourable treatment in relation to contracts and business interests in Nigeria.

According to the prosecution, Alison-Madueke allegedly enjoyed a “life of luxury” in London funded through illicit benefits provided by individuals linked to the oil and gas sector.

The court heard claims that she received £100,000 in cash, more than £2 million spent on luxury shopping at Harrods, £4.6 million for property refurbishments, private jet travel, chauffeur-driven vehicles and payments for domestic staff at luxury properties in London and Buckinghamshire.

The prosecution alleged that the benefits were provided in exchange for influence and favourable treatment while she served as petroleum minister.

Testifying in her defence, Alison-Madueke rejected all allegations of wrongdoing.

She told the court that she never sought, requested or accepted bribes and did not abuse her public office.

Her legal team argued that the case was politically motivated and that investigators had wrongly interpreted financial transactions and benefits associated with her.

The trial, presided over by Justice Justine Thornton, focused on allegations said to have occurred between 2011 and 2015.

Had she been convicted under the United Kingdom’s anti-bribery laws, Alison-Madueke faced a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

The former minister was tried alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama.

Ayinde faced one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another count involving the alleged bribery of a foreign public official.

Agama was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery over alleged payments connected to his church.

Both men denied the allegations throughout the proceedings.

On Wednesday, the jury also acquitted them of all charges.