Nigeria's ex-oil minister Alison-Madueke cleared of all charges in UK corruption trial
Jurors found no evidence she took bribes in exchange for oil contracts after a five-month trial, ending a decade-long corruption case.
- On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, a Southwark Crown Court jury acquitted former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke of six bribery and conspiracy charges after a five-month trial.
- Prosecutors alleged Alison-Madueke enjoyed a "life of luxury" in London, funded by oil and gas figures seeking contracts, including more than £2 million at Harrods and about £4.6 million in property refurbishments.
- Following more than 46 hours of deliberations, the jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts; defense lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw argued a "gross delay" in charges denied her access to evidence that had "disappeared."
- The verdict marks a significant setback for the National Crime Agency, which led the investigation, though Alison-Madueke still faces multiple corruption cases in Nigeria where proceedings have stalled.
- Alison-Madueke served as Minister of Petroleum Resources and president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries between 2014 and 2015, relocating to the United Kingdom after the 2015 People's Democratic Party election defeat.
53 Articles
53 Articles
UK court delivers verdict in ex-Nigerian oil minister bribery trial
Prosecutors had accused Diezani Alison-Madueke of receiving cash and luxury services from industry executives between 2011 and 2015 in exchange for preferential treatment Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been cleared of all six bribery charges by a UK court, ending a long-running prosecution on allegations she received luxury benefits in exchange for preferential...
After five months of hearing, Diezani Alison-Madueke, former President of OPEC, "was released from six counts of corruption" by the British courts.
Nigeria's ex-oil minister Alison-Madueke cleared of all charges in UK corruption trial
LONDON, June 17 - Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was found not guilty of six bribery charges by a London jury on Wednesday, after a rare corruption trial of a high-profile former energy official. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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