Why UK Court Cleared Diezani Alison-Madueke of All Bribery Charges

• Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery charges by a London court, ending a high-profile corruption trial that lasted several years and dealt a major setback to British prosecutors.

A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London has acquitted former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of all six bribery charges brought against her by UK authorities.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday after jurors spent more than 46 hours deliberating on the case.

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

British prosecutors alleged that the former minister received luxury benefits and gifts from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

However, Alison-Madueke consistently denied the allegations, insisting that she never accepted bribes and had no direct influence over the awarding of government contracts.

Following weeks of trial proceedings at the Southwark Crown Court, the jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on all charges.

The ruling marks a significant setback for British authorities, who launched investigations into corruption allegations involving the former minister more than a decade ago.

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Also acquitted were oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde and Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama.

Ayinde had faced bribery-related charges connected to the former minister, while Agama was accused of conspiracy to commit bribery over payments allegedly made to a church linked to him.

Both men denied all allegations throughout the trial.

The acquittal brings an end to one of the most closely watched international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian government official.