UK Court Acquits Former Nigerian Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke of Bribery Charges
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Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been found not guilty of multiple bribery charges by a court in the United Kingdom, bringing an end to a lengthy legal trial that lasted several months.
The verdict was delivered at Southwark Crown Court in London on June 17, 2026, following a five-month hearing that examined allegations linked to her time in office between 2011 and 2015.
The case was prosecuted by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), which had investigated claims that Alison-Madueke received benefits from individuals associated with energy firms that secured contracts with Nigeria's state-owned oil corporation during her tenure as petroleum minister.
Prosecutors had argued that she enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle financed by business interests seeking influence in Nigeria's oil and gas sector. The allegations included the use of luxury vehicles, private air travel, and expenses related to properties in London.
However, the defence team challenged the accusations, arguing that key records capable of supporting her innocence were no longer available due to the long period between the alleged offences and the eventual filing of charges. Lawyers also maintained that access to important documents had been hindered over the years.
Alison-Madueke, who served as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries between 2014 and 2015, has faced several legal proceedings in different countries since leaving office. She was first arrested in the UK in 2015 and was formally charged in 2023, charges she consistently denied.
The court's decision clears her of all six bribery counts brought against her in the British case, marking a significant development in one of the most closely watched international corruption investigations involving a former Nigerian public official.
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