Alison-Maduke, who was a minister between 2010 and 2015, was standing trial on five counts of accepting bribes and another charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.

The Southwark Crown Court in London, UK, has acquitted a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of bribery charges filed against her. 

She was acquitted by a jury of all six charges after more than 46 hours of deliberations.

Alison-Maduke, who was a minister between 2010 and 2015, was standing trial on five counts of accepting bribes and another charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.

The prosecutors alleged that the 65-year-old was given a “life of luxury” in London from oil and gas industry figures looking for lucrative contracts in Nigeria. 

However, Alison-Madueke, a former president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), denied taking bribes and did not influence the award of lucrative government contracts. 

Following a trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court, the former minister was cleared of all charges.

British authorities started their investigations into the corruption allegations against her over a decade ago. 

She took the trial alongside a former minister, Olatimbo Ayinde, and her brother, Doye Agama, on charges bordering on accepting bribes. They pleaded not guilty. 

Both Ayinde and Agama were acquitted by the jury.

More to follow…