Ex-Nigeria oil minister cleared in UK bribery trial
Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Nigerian oil minister, was acquitted in a London court of accepting bribes from oil executives. The jury found her not guilty on five counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
A former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of bribery charges after a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. The 65-year-old was found not guilty of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Alison-Madueke served as Nigeria's oil minister from 2010 to 2015 and was the first female president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The verdict is a setback for the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), which had been investigating the case for 13 years. From the start of the trial in January, the defence questioned the fairness of the prosecution, claiming that key documents proving Alison-Madueke's innocence had gone missing in Nigeria. They also argued that the lengthy delay in bringing the case to court was unjust and highlighted Britain's "broken criminal justice system."
Also acquitted were Alison-Madueke's older brother, Doye Agama, a 69-year-old archbishop, who was cleared of conspiracy to commit bribery, and oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was found not guilty of bribery and bribing a foreign public official.
During the trial, Alison-Madueke portrayed herself as a role model for women and a fighter against corruption, earning the nickname "Madam due process" for her strict adherence to rules. She became the first female member of Shell's Nigerian board in 2006 and was appointed oil minister four years later. She became OPEC president in 2014.
Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC argued that Alison-Madueke improperly allowed wealthy men with lucrative government oil contracts to fund her lavish lifestyle. However, the prosecution failed to provide evidence that she awarded contracts in exchange for bribes. Alison-Madueke told the court she never asked for or accepted bribes, and that many luxury items were not for her.
Following the verdict, Alison-Madueke said her "nightmare is over," stating: "For 11 long, gruelling years this case has hung over my head and has tormented me and my family. But today, the past decade of relentless and unjust vilification, condemnation and scrutiny has finally come to an end."
