London Jury Clears Diezani Alison-Madueke of All Bribery Charges After Landmark Corruption Trial

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all six bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom, following a high-profile corruption trial that concluded on Wednesday in London.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, had faced five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. She consistently denied all allegations.

British prosecutors alleged that the 65-year-old former minister enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in London, funded by oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. The prosecution claimed the benefits formed part of a broader bribery scheme aimed at influencing contract awards.

However, Alison-Madueke maintained throughout the trial that she neither accepted bribes nor exercised direct influence over the awarding of government contracts.

She also argued that her role did not grant her authority to determine which companies secured major oil and gas deals.

Following proceedings at Southwark Crown Court in London, the jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on all six charges after more than 46 hours of deliberation.

The acquittal marks a significant setback for British authorities, whose investigation into allegations of corruption involving the former minister began more than a decade ago.

Alison-Madueke, who also served briefly as President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was accused of bribery-related offences linked to the former minister. Ayinde denied the charges and was cleared by the jury.

Also acquitted was Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, 69, who had been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with payments allegedly made to his church. Agama likewise denied any wrongdoing.

The verdict brings to a close one of the most closely watched international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official.