By Ado Oyeyemi
A Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, has acquitted former Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of all bribery charges levelled against her, bringing an end to a high-profile trial that had drawn international attention.
The jury cleared Alison-Madueke of six counts after more than 46 hours of deliberations, effectively ending proceedings in the long-running case.
During the trial, a written statement by former President Goodluck Jonathan was presented in court, in which he stated that it was not unusual for third parties to make payments on behalf of ministers on foreign assignments.
He also confirmed that he had approved the former minister’s use of private jets for official overseas trips.
The case, which began full hearing in January 2026, stemmed from charges brought by United Kingdom authorities in August 2023, alleging that Alison-Madueke received a £100,000 bribe linked to oil and gas contracts during her tenure as minister.
The UK’s National Crime Agency had accused her of benefiting from illicit payments and luxury items in exchange for influencing the award of multi-million-pound contracts in Nigeria’s oil sector.
Prosecutors told the court that the former minister allegedly enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in London, which they claimed was funded by individuals and companies seeking favourable treatment in Nigeria’s oil industry.
They further alleged that Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko, who was not on trial, spent over £2 million on luxury goods for Alison-Madueke at Harrods, and also provided access to high-end properties in the United Kingdom allegedly used by her and her family.
However, defence counsel argued that the former minister had limited direct control over oil contract approvals, insisting that key decisions were taken at earlier stages within multiple government agencies before reaching her desk.
The defence further maintained that operational authority in the oil sector largely resided with the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, while the ministry’s role was mainly supervisory.
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With the jury’s verdict, Alison-Madueke was cleared of all charges, marking a significant development in one of the most closely watched corruption-related cases involving a former Nigerian public official in recent years.
