A London jury on Wednesday cleared Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of bribery charges after a lengthy trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The decision followed more than 46 hours of jury deliberation, bringing the high-profile case to an end in the United Kingdom.
According to Reuters, the verdict represents a significant setback for British authorities who brought the case forward.
Alison-Madueke, who served as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, had faced five counts of accepting bribes as well as a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Prosecutors had alleged that she was provided with “a life of luxury” in London by oil and gas industry players seeking to secure lucrative contracts in Nigeria.
Alison-Madueke’s Defence Team Challenges Bribery Claims in Court
However, she consistently denied the allegations, insisting she did not receive bribes and had no real influence over the awarding of contracts.
Her legal team argued that the expenditures referenced by the prosecution were either reimbursed by the Nigerian state for official duties or covered personally by Alison-Madueke for private expenses.
The defence also maintained that she was widely regarded as “Madame Due Process” during her tenure as minister.
In a statement following her acquittal, her lawyer said Alison-Madueke expressed gratitude to the jury after having “unnecessarily endured the ordeal of being separated from her family over 11 years”.
“She is finally allowed to resume her private and public life with her reputation restored and enhanced,” the statement added.
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