Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all six bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom, ending one of the most closely watched legal cases involving a former Nigerian public official.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all six counts after more than 46 hours of deliberation, clearing Alison-Madueke of allegations that she accepted bribes while serving as Nigeria’s petroleum minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
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The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, marks a significant legal victory for the former minister, whose prosecution had drawn widespread attention in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom because of her influential role in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Prosecutors had accused Alison-Madueke of receiving illicit benefits during her tenure in office.
However, after reviewing the evidence presented throughout the trial, the jury unanimously found her not guilty on all charges.
The acquittal brings an end to the criminal proceedings in the UK, although further details on the court’s reasoning and reactions from the prosecution, defence team, and Nigerian authorities are expected in the coming days.
