UK Court Clears Diezani of Six Bribery Counts after 11-Year Legal Battle

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been cleared of all bribery allegations brought against her in the United Kingdom, bringing to an end a legal battle that lasted more than a decade.

A jury at the Southwark Crown Court in London returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on six counts of bribery and conspiracy after deliberating for more than 46 hours.

The 65-year-old former minister, who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, had faced accusations of receiving benefits and luxury services from individuals linked to the oil and gas industry in exchange for influence over business opportunities in Nigeria.

Throughout the trial, Alison-Madueke denied any wrongdoing, insisting that she neither accepted bribes nor played a direct role in the award of oil contracts.

Her defence team argued that many of the expenses highlighted by prosecutors were either covered by the Nigerian government in the course of official assignments or paid for personally by the former minister.

During her testimony, Alison-Madueke told the court she earned the nickname “Madame Due Process” because of her insistence on adherence to established procedures while overseeing the nation’s petroleum sector.

The case, one of the most high-profile prosecutions involving a former Nigerian public official in Britain, had attracted significant attention both in Nigeria and abroad.

Following the verdict, her lawyer said the former minister welcomed the outcome and expressed appreciation to the jury for its consideration of the evidence presented during the proceedings.

The legal representative added that the judgment marked the end of an ordeal that had stretched for more than 11 years, allowing Alison-Madueke to move on with her life after years of court appearances and investigations.

The acquittal effectively closes a chapter in a long-running case that has remained under public scrutiny since allegations first emerged against the former petroleum minister.