Former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is facing charges of bribery offenses following a comprehensive investigation conducted by the UK’s National Crime Agency. The investigation reveals alleged incidents where she purportedly accepted bribes in exchange for lucrative oil and gas contracts during her tenure in the government.
The National Crime Agency’s statement asserts that Alison-Madueke is accused of benefiting from various privileges, including over £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, opulent vacations for her family, and the utilization of multiple properties in London. The charges against her further encompass financial rewards such as furniture, property renovations, staffing arrangements, payments for private school fees, and extravagant gifts from luxury boutiques, including renowned brands like Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
Alison-Madueke, who played a significant role in the cabinet of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, has consistently refuted any allegations of corruption. Presently residing in London, she is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on October 2 to address the charges levied against her.
Andy Kelly, the head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit, emphasized the significance of these charges in the context of a meticulous and intricate international investigation. Kelly stressed that bribery serves as a pervasive form of corruption, enabling severe criminal activities and potentially wreaking havoc on developing nations. The NCA is resolute in collaborating with domestic and foreign partners to confront this threat effectively.
Assets linked to the alleged offenses, valued in millions of pounds, have been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation, according to the National Crime Agency. Alison-Madueke’s tenure also included a notable achievement as the first female president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and a prominent oil producer, is among the 13 member countries of OPEC.
