Alison‑Madueke Walks Free After UK Bribery Verdict

Wed Jun 17 2026 21:37:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison‑Madueke is acquitted of bribery charges, ending an 11‑year legal siege in Britain.

In a landmark ruling, Diezani Alison‑Madueke, former oil minister of Nigeria, was found not guilty of accepting bribes from oil executives during her tenure. The case had dragged on for over a decade, with the UK’s National Crime Agency pursuing allegations of luxury accommodation and lavish spending on overseas trips. The jury dismissed five bribery counts and a conspiracy charge, citing lack of evidence and procedural issues. Her acquittal is seen as a setback for anti‑corruption efforts in Nigeria and a relief for the former minister, who has campaigned as a champion of women’s leadership.

Alison‑Madueke Walks Free After UK Bribery Verdict

Diezani Alison‑Madueke, the former Nigerian oil minister, was cleared of five counts of accepting bribes and a conspiracy to commit bribery in a jury trial held at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Alison‑Madueke served as Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015 and was the first female president of OPEC, a position that threw her into the global spotlight. The prosecution argued that she allowed a group of wealthy oil executives to fund lavish stays and extravagant expenditures while she was on official overseas business.

However, the defence highlighted procedural lapses and accused the National Crime Agency of withholding key evidence, including documents seized from her Abuja home and the failure to extradite alleged paymasters. The jury found the evidence insufficient and concluded that the minister had not solicited or received bribes.

The acquittal brings an end to a legal dispute that spanned 13 years and has drawn criticism from anti‑corruption bodies and commentators in both Britain and Nigeria. While the verdict is a setback for the UK’s anti‑corruption campaign, it also underscores the complexities of prosecuting high‑profile politicians on cross‑border cases.

In a post‑verdict statement, Alison‑Madueke said the “nightmare is over”, reflecting for years on the toll the trial had taken on her and her family. She thanked supporters and pledged to continue advocating for women’s leadership in business and politics.