Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison Madueke has been cleared of bribery charges in London, ending a case that followed a 13 year investigation by UK authorities….reports Africa Daily News Desk
Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been cleared of bribery charges by a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London, marking a major setback for a long-running investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
According to a BBC report, Alison-Madueke, 65, was found not guilty of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Prosecutors had alleged that she received benefits from wealthy oil executives, including luxury accommodation and high-end shopping trips in the United Kingdom while serving as Nigeria’s oil minister.
Alison-Madueke held the petroleum portfolio between 2010 and 2015 and became the first woman to serve as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2014.
The jury also acquitted her brother, Doye Agama, 69, of conspiracy to commit bribery. Oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, was found not guilty of bribery and bribery of a foreign public official.
The case centred on claims that influential oil businessmen funded aspects of Alison-Madueke’s lifestyle while benefiting from lucrative government contracts. However, prosecutors did not present evidence that contracts were awarded in exchange for alleged bribes.
During the trial, Alison-Madueke denied all wrongdoing and told jurors she had never asked for or accepted bribes. She portrayed herself as a champion of transparency who was known in Nigeria as “Madam due process” because of her strict adherence to official rules.
According to the BBC, defence lawyers argued that documents supporting her innocence had gone missing in Nigeria and criticised the lengthy delay in bringing the case to court. They also questioned the fairness of the prosecution after the investigation stretched over 13 years.
Alison-Madueke told the court that some of the luxury items cited by prosecutors were not intended for her personal use. She also said Nigerian ministers serving abroad were not permitted to hold foreign bank accounts and that expenses paid on her behalf by businessmen were later reimbursed in Nigeria.
Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed Alison-Madueke as oil minister, did not testify but submitted a statement saying it was common for third parties to cover travel and accommodation costs for ministers on official overseas business.
The acquittal brings to a close one of the UK’s most prominent corruption cases involving a former African political leader.
