A London court has acquitted former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of six counts of bribery.
Southwark Crown Court delivered the verdict after more than 46 hours of jury deliberation.
The trial, which began in January 2026, centred on allegations that Alison-Madueke accepted bribes from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria.
British authorities began investigating corruption allegations against her more than a decade ago.
Prosecutors alleged that the 65-year-old was given “a life of luxury” in London by industry players during her tenure as minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Alison-Madueke, who also briefly served as President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, denied all allegations.
She told the court she never took bribes and had no real influence over the awarding of contracts. Her lawyers argued that the spending cited by prosecutors was reimbursed by the Nigerian state for official business.
The former minister was charged with five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. She was acquitted on all counts.
UK Court Acquits Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke of Bribery Charges
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