Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been cleared of all bribery allegations brought against her in the United Kingdom, bringing an end to one of the most closely watched international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official.

A jury sitting at Southwark Crown Court in London unanimously returned verdicts of not guilty on all six counts after a lengthy trial that lasted 12 weeks. The decision followed approximately 46 hours of deliberations by jurors who examined extensive evidence presented by both prosecutors and the defence team.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, consistently maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings.

The prosecution had alleged that the former minister benefited from financial advantages and luxury services provided by individuals connected to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Prosecutors argued that these benefits were allegedly offered in exchange for favourable treatment regarding contracts and business interests during her tenure in office.

According to claims presented during the trial, Alison-Madueke allegedly received substantial financial and material benefits, including cash payments, luxury shopping expenses, property renovation costs, private air travel, chauffeur services, and domestic staff support at high-end residences in the United Kingdom.

The prosecution portrayed the former minister as having enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle funded through unlawful benefits linked to her position as a senior government official.

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Throughout the trial, Alison-Madueke firmly denied every allegation leveled against her.

Giving evidence before the court, she stated that she neither solicited nor accepted bribes and insisted that she never abused the authority of her public office. Her defence team argued that the accusations were based on incorrect interpretations of financial transactions and personal associations.

The legal team further maintained that the case was influenced by political considerations and lacked sufficient evidence to establish criminal wrongdoing beyond reasonable doubt.

The trial, overseen by Justice Justine Thornton, focused on allegations said to have occurred between 2011 and 2015 while Alison-Madueke held one of the most influential positions in Nigeria’s oil sector.

Had she been convicted under United Kingdom anti-bribery legislation, the former minister could have faced a prison sentence of up to ten years as well as substantial financial penalties.

The case also involved oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde and Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama.

Ayinde was accused of offences relating to alleged bribery involving Alison-Madueke and a separate count connected to the alleged bribery of a foreign public official. Agama faced accusations of conspiracy to commit bribery over payments allegedly linked to his church activities.

Both men denied the charges from the outset of the proceedings.

In a significant outcome for all defendants, the jury acquitted Ayinde and Agama of every charge brought against them.

The verdict marks a major legal victory for Alison-Madueke after years of investigations, public scrutiny, and legal proceedings that attracted international attention due to her former role overseeing one of Africa’s largest petroleum sectors.

With the unanimous acquittal delivered by the jury, the case concludes with all defendants cleared of wrongdoing under the charges brought before the British court.