By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi
Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery-related charges brought against her in the United Kingdom, bringing to an end a closely watched legal battle that spanned several years.
A jury at the Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday returned a unanimous not-guilty verdict on all six counts against the former minister after a 12-week trial and approximately 46 hours of deliberations.
The verdict clears Alison-Madueke of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, allegations that stemmed from her tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The former minister, who left Nigeria for the United Kingdom shortly before the inauguration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, had consistently denied all allegations throughout the proceedings.
Prosecutors had accused her of receiving illicit benefits from individuals connected to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry in exchange for facilitating favourable contract decisions while overseeing the country’s petroleum sector.
According to the prosecution, the alleged benefits included about £100,000 in cash gifts, more than £2 million spent on luxury purchases at Harrods, approximately £4.6 million used for renovations of high-end properties, as well as payments for domestic staff and other luxury lifestyle expenses.
The court heard allegations that Alison-Madueke enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle in London, including private jet travel, chauffeur-driven vehicles and extensive property improvements funded by individuals seeking business advantages in Nigeria’s oil industry.
However, the former minister rejected the allegations, insisting that she neither solicited nor received bribes from any individual or organisation.
Her legal team argued that the prosecution’s case was based on assumptions and misinterpretations of financial transactions, maintaining that there was no direct evidence linking her to any bribery arrangement.
The defence further contended that some of the allegations were influenced by political considerations and lacked credible proof of criminal conduct.
The case, presided over by Justice Justine Thornton, focused on alleged offences said to have occurred between 2011 and 2015.
Had she been convicted, Alison-Madueke faced a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment under the UK Bribery Act, in addition to potentially substantial financial penalties.
Also acquitted were oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, who stood trial alongside her on related bribery and conspiracy charges.
Both men had denied any wrongdoing and were cleared of all allegations by the jury.
The verdict marks a significant legal victory for the former minister, whose name has remained at the centre of corruption allegations since leaving office more than a decade ago.
While the judgment brings an end to the UK criminal proceedings against her, analysts note that Alison-Madueke’s years in public office remain among the most scrutinised periods in Nigeria’s petroleum sector history.
