Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of bribery charges by a jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court.
The 65-year-old was found not guilty of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery after a lengthy trial that began in January.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015 and was the first woman to lead the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), had been accused of receiving benefits from wealthy oil executives, including luxury accommodation and expensive shopping trips in the United Kingdom.
The verdict marks a significant setback for the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which had investigated the former minister for more than a decade.
Also cleared by the jury were Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, who faced a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, and oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who had been charged with bribery and bribery of a foreign public official.
During the trial, Alison-Madueke denied ever requesting or accepting bribes. She told the court that some of her living expenses were covered by wealthy businessmen while she was on official duties abroad and that such expenses were later reimbursed in Nigeria.
The former minister described herself as a strong advocate of due process and anti-corruption measures, saying she was unfairly targeted during her time in office.
Her legal team questioned the prosecution’s case, arguing that key documents that could have supported her defence were missing and criticising the lengthy delay in bringing the matter to court.
Questions were also raised during the trial about the handling of evidence obtained by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which assisted in the investigation.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed Alison-Madueke as oil minister, provided a statement to the court stating that it was not uncommon for third parties to cover travel and accommodation expenses for ministers on official overseas assignments.
Following the verdict, Alison-Madueke said she was relieved that the case had finally come to an end after more than a decade.b“For 11 long, gruelling years this case has hung over my head and has tormented me and my family,” she said, adding that the verdict had brought an end to years of scrutiny and public condemnation.
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