Acquittal: Former petroleum minister vindicated after 11-year ordeal; London jury deliberates 46 hours before clearing her of six counts
Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, has been acquitted of all six bribery charges by a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London, bringing an end to an 11-year legal battle that began with her arrest in October 2015.
The jury deliberated for more than 46 hours before returning not guilty verdicts on five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
The trial, which began in January 2026, lasted five months and centred on allegations that Alison-Madueke accepted luxury benefits from oil and gas industry figures in exchange for influence over lucrative Nigerian petroleum contracts during her tenure from 2010 to 2015.
The acquittal also cleared oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde and Alison-Madueke’s brother Doye Agama of their respective charges. Both had denied all allegations during the trial.
Acquittal ends traumatic decade for former minister
Speaking emotionally after the verdict, Alison-Madueke thanked God and those who supported her through the ordeal.
“It’s been a very, very arduous and long, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, for friends, for all those who have stayed and supported,” she said in a video statement. “God will always do as God wills, and God will be God. God is not a man that he should lie.”
The former minister emphasised that she performed her duties to the best of her ability during her time in office. “I did my job to the best of my ability. God is not a man that he should lie. God is God, and we thank him,” she stated.
Through her representative Bolouere Opukiri, Alison-Madueke released a statement describing the acquittal as bringing an end to “a decade of unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny.” She expressed profound relief and gratitude for the complete vindication, acknowledging the unwavering support of her legal team and family throughout the proceedings.
Acquittal addresses UK prosecution strategy
The acquittal represents a major defeat for the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which brought the charges in 2023 after years of investigation. Prosecutors had alleged that industry figures provided Alison-Madueke with rent-free use of high-end London properties, luxury goods estimated at approximately £2 million from Harrods, and other financial advantages.
Alison-Madueke’s defence counsel argued that she held limited authority over oil contract approvals, with decisions involving multiple agencies and established processes. They contended that payments were either reimbursed or covered by the Nigerian state for official purposes.
A written statement from former President Goodluck Jonathan, read in open court, supported Alison-Madueke’s position. Jonathan testified that third-party payments for government officials on foreign assignments were standard practice and that he had personally approved her use of private aircraft for some overseas engagements.
Legal matters continue
Whilst the acquittal clears Alison-Madueke of criminal charges in the UK, separate civil asset recovery cases remain active in other jurisdictions. The US has recovered approximately $53.1 million in assets linked to Alison-Madueke under civil proceedings, which operate under a lower standard of proof than criminal trials.
The former minister indicated she would address future plans and events of the past decade “in due course” but said she intends to focus on embracing the freedom she described as having been unjustly denied for many years.
