Alison-Madueke Beats 6 UK Bribery Charges After 46 Hours of Jury Deliberations
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 17
Alison-Madueke Beats 6 UK Bribery Charges After 46 Hours of Jury Deliberations
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 17
Summary
London jurors acquitted former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke on six bribery charges after more than 46 hours of deliberations, ending a trial that began in January.
Prosecutors said the 65-year-old received a "life of luxury" in London from oil and gas figures seeking Nigerian contracts, while her defense argued the spending was reimbursed or legitimate and denied she took bribes.
The verdict is a setback for Britain's National Crime Agency after an investigation that began more than a decade ago; campaigners said the case underscored how hard it is to prosecute alleged corruption by political elites.
Two co-defendants were also cleared: oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde on two bribery counts and Alison-Madueke's brother Doye Agama on conspiracy tied to payments to his church.
The case capped years of allegations around Alison-Madueke, who led Nigeria's oil ministry from 2010 to 2015 and had also faced U.S. claims that illicit contract proceeds were laundered through the United States.