Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery-related charges brought against her by prosecutors in the United Kingdom.
The judgment, delivered on Wednesday at a London court, brings to a close a prolonged legal battle that lasted more than a decade and centered on allegations linked to her tenure in Nigeria’s oil sector.
Alison-Madueke, who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, was accused of receiving expensive gifts and other benefits from individuals seeking preferential treatment in the award of oil contracts.
She consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the trial, insisting that the allegations against her were unfounded. Her legal team maintained that many of the expenditures cited by prosecutors were either official expenses or payments made from personal funds.
After considering the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all counts filed against the former minister.
Speaking after the verdict, Alison-Madueke described the decision as a major relief, saying the case had subjected her and her family to years of uncertainty and emotional strain.
The acquittal marks the end of one of the most closely watched corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official in a foreign jurisdiction. It is also expected to spark fresh debate over anti-corruption efforts, accountability in public service and the challenges associated with prosecuting complex cross-border financial crimes.
Alison-Madueke was Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 and became the first woman to preside over the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries during her time in office.
