Diezani Alison-Madueke Acquitted of Bribery Charges in UK

Diezani Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015, was acquitted of six counts of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery by the Southwark Crown Court in London on June 17, 2026. Alison-Madueke was arrested in London in October 2015 following allegations of corruption after the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration by Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) conducted an extensive investigation, culminating in charges that she received £100,000 in cash, luxurious accommodation, chauffeur-driven vehicles, and private jet flights in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts. The trial proceeded without significant interruptions, and the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict.

The case underscored the need for the Nigerian judiciary and the EFCC to improve the speed and consistency of legal proceedings, contrasting the lengthy investigations and frequent adjournments typical in high-profile cases in Nigeria.