The former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Madueke, has been declared not guilty on all the corruption charges preferred against her.
A Court in London, United Kingdom (UK) made this declaration on Wednesday, June 17.
Alison-Madueke was charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.
The prosecutors alleged that Alison-Madueke was given “a life of luxury” in London from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.
In response to the allegation, the ex-Minister, who served under the former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, said she never took any bribes and had no real influence over the awarding of lucrative government contracts.
After a trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court, Alison-Madueke was acquitted by a jury of all six charges she faced after more than 46 hours of deliberation.
The not guilty verdicts are a major blow to British authorities, who began their investigation into corruption allegations against Alison-Madueke more than a decade ago.
The former President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo
Ayinde, who was charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.
Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery with his sister relating to payments made to Agama’s church.
Both Ayinde and Agama denied the charges against them and were also acquitted by the jury.