A former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who served from 2010 to 2015 under administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been acquitted of six bribery charges following a high-profile corruption trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court.
Penpushing reports that prosecutors alleged that Alison-Madueke, was given “a life of luxury” in London by oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, a country that has long struggled with corruption and mismanagement.
The former Minister who also briefly served as President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, faced five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, but denied all charges.
Penpushing further reports that the 65-year-old Alison-Madueke, declared that she never received any bribes and had no real influence over the awarding of government contracts, while the not-guilty verdict, represents a setback for British authorities, who began investigating corruption allegations against her more than a decade ago.
The former Minister stood trial alongside 45-year-old oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who faced one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another count of bribery of a foreign public official.
Penpushing also reports that, Alison-Madueke’s 69-year-old brother, Doye Agama, was equally charged with conspiracy to commit bribery alongside her, relating to alleged payments made to Agama’s church, however, the duo of Ayinde and Agama denied the charges.
Meanwhile, following proceedings at Southwark Crown Court in London, a jury acquitted Alison-Madueke of all six charges, as well as well as Agamu and Ayinde after more than 46 hours of deliberation.
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