Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been cleared of all bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom, bringing an end to a lengthy legal battle that attracted significant attention in Nigeria and abroad.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday found Alison-Madueke not guilty of six counts of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery, according to Reuters.
The former minister, who served under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, had been accused of receiving benefits and luxury gifts from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria.
Prosecutors alleged that Alison-Madueke enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in London in return for using her position to influence the award of contracts. However, she consistently denied the allegations, insisting throughout the trial that she never accepted bribes and had no direct role in awarding government contracts.
After more than 46 hours of deliberation, the jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on all six charges, marking a major legal victory for the former minister.
The verdict closes a significant chapter in a case that has remained in the spotlight for years, with many Nigerians closely following its outcome.
