A Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, has acquitted former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of all bribery charges brought against her.
The court announced the verdict on Wednesday after a jury returned a unanimous decision following more than 46 hours of deliberations, clearing her of six counts of alleged bribery.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015, had faced prosecution in the UK over allegations linked to corruption during her tenure.
The charges were part of broader international investigations into alleged financial misconduct involving high-ranking officials and oil-sector transactions.
However, after reviewing the evidence presented during the trial, the jury found her not guilty on all counts, bringing the long-running case to a close in the UK judicial system.
The verdict marks a significant development in a case that has drawn widespread attention both in Nigeria and internationally, given Alison-Madueke’s role as the first female petroleum minister in Nigeria and her central position in the country’s oil sector during a period of major policy reforms and controversies.
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Background to the case shows that Diezani Alison-Madueke has faced multiple corruption-related allegations across different jurisdictions since leaving office in 2015, including accusations tied to alleged kickbacks, money laundering, and misuse of public office. She has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Authorities in the United Kingdom had pursued several strands of investigation into alleged financial crimes involving politically exposed persons linked to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, with this case forming one of the most prominent proceedings.
Wednesday’s ruling by the jury at Southwark Crown Court effectively clears her of criminal liability in this particular matter in the UK, although other related legal proceedings and asset recovery efforts in various jurisdictions have previously been reported in connection with her tenure.
The court’s decision followed extensive hearings and legal arguments, with the jury ultimately concluding after nearly two days of deliberation that the prosecution had not established the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Further official statements from the court or legal representatives are expected as reactions continue to emerge from Nigeria and the international community regarding the outcome of the case.