Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been charged by British authorities with bribery offenses, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday. It is alleged that she engaged in the acceptance of bribes in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts worth millions of pounds.
Alison-Madueke, aged 63, held a prominent position during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan, serving as the Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015. She also assumed the position of president within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” said Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s International Corruption Unit.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) disclosed that Alison-Madueke profited from various indulgences, including cash sums exceeding £100,000, chauffeured luxury vehicles, privileged access to private jets, extravagant vacations for her family, and the utilization of multiple properties in London.
The charges leveled against her encompass a range of financial benefits, such as furnishing, property renovations, staffing provisions, coverage of private school tuition fees, and gifts from prestigious designer outlets, including Cartier jewelry and Louis Vuitton goods, according to statements from the NCA.
Alison-Madueke, who is currently residing in the upscale St John’s Wood in West London, is scheduled to make her appearance before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 2, 2023.
Recall that Alison-Madueke has been probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission since she left office. She has been dogged by corruption allegations but denies the charges.
In October, 2022, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties and two luxury cars belonging to Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.
Jesse Voyamba
