A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London has cleared Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, of all six bribery-related charges, bringing an end to a corruption trial that spanned over a decade.
After more than 46 hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted Diezani of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, thereby concluding an investigation that lasted more than 11 years
The verdict comes as a significant setback for British prosecutors and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which launched investigations into allegations against the former minister over 11 years ago.
Recall that Alison-Madueke, 65, served as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. The former minister, had been accused of receiving luxury gifts and benefits from oil industry executives seeking influence over lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s oil sector.
Furthermore, Prosecutors alleged that she enjoyed a “life of luxury” funded by businessmen with interests in the nation’s petroleum industry, including items such as luxury travel, furniture, handbags and other high-value benefits.
Furthermore, throughout the trial, Alison-Madueke consistently denied all the allegations, insisting that she never accepted bribes or used her office to benefit any individual or company.
In her defence testimony, she told the court that she did not initiate meetings with oil executives and, furthermore, that many of the contacts and travel arrangements cited by the prosecution were arranged by other parties rather than by her.
Additionally, she stated that her health affected her memory of some events, explaining that she was undergoing cancer treatment during part of the period under review.
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Meanwhile, this development comes after Diezani Alison-Madueke said she had little control over oil contract approvals during her time in office.
Speaking in a UK court amid her trial, she claims that most decisions were made before reaching her desk.
Diezani said while giving evidence in court that multiple agencies handled contract processes in the oil sector before they reached her as minister.
Additionally, she said the operational authority of the sector rested largely with the MD of NNPC, while the ministry played an oversight role.
She added that direct ministerial control was not feasible due to the magnitude and complexity of the petroleum business, characterising.
Alison-Madueke further described herself primarily as a “rubber stamp” in the process.
