The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, has acquitted Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian minister of petroleum resources, of all bribery charges filed against her.
As reported by the BBC, a jury found Alison-Madueke not guilty on all six charges on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. The verdict marks a significant setback for British authorities, who had been investigating corruption allegations against the former minister for over a decade.
Prosecution Allegations
Prosecutors alleged that the 65-year-old former oil minister received lavish benefits and enjoyed what they described as a life of luxury in London, funded by oil and gas industry figures seeking favorable treatment and lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, consistently denied the allegations.
Trial and Verdict
The trial began in January 2026, and the jury deliberated for more than 46 hours before reaching a verdict. During the trial, a written statement from former President Goodluck Jonathan was read in open court. Jonathan stated that it was not unusual for third parties to make payments on behalf of ministers on overseas duties, and he confirmed that he had approved Alison-Madueke’s use of private jets on some foreign trips.
Reaction from Alison-Madueke's Legal Team
Following the acquittal, Alison-Madueke’s lawyer issued a statement expressing gratitude to the jury, noting that she had unnecessarily endured the ordeal of being separated from her family for over 11 years. The statement said, "She is finally allowed to resume her private and public life with her reputation restored and enhanced."
Alison-Madueke Speaks Out
In a video posted by NewsCentralTV on Wednesday evening, Alison-Madueke expressed relief that the case was finally over. She said, "It's been a very arduous and long... almost eleven years, it's been traumatic, not just for me, but for my family and friends."
Previous Statements
Earlier, Alison-Madueke had questioned the fairness of her bribery trial in the UK. In a statement released by her media aide, Bolouere Opukiri, she said her legal team argued that both the British and Nigerian governments had denied her access to crucial documents needed for her defense. She insisted that the trial should not proceed if the authorities were unwilling to provide the necessary materials.
