BREAKING: Ex-Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke Cleared of Bribery in UK Court
Former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been cleared of all bribery charges by a UK court in London. A jury delivered a not guilty verdict after extensive deliberation, concluding a trial that began in January 2026. Two co-defendants, Olatimbo Ayinde and Doye Agama, were also acquitted of related charges.
A United Kingdom court has acquitted Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's former petroleum minister, of all bribery charges leveled against her. Following more than 46 hours of deliberation, a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London delivered a not guilty verdict on Wednesday. Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who held the ministerial portfolio under former president Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, had faced a total of six charges: five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Throughout the legal proceedings, she steadfastly denied all accusations.
The trial, which commenced in January 2026, stemmed from charges filed by UK authorities in August 2023. These allegations asserted that Alison-Madueke had accepted approximately £100,000 in bribes. The payments were allegedly made in exchange for the awarding of lucrative oil and gas contracts during her tenure as minister. The UK’s National Crime Agency had previously indicated its suspicion that Alison-Madueke received various payments and other benefits from individuals and entities seeking contracts within Nigeria’s vital oil sector.
Alongside Mrs. Alison-Madueke, oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, were also on trial, facing charges in connection with the same case. Both co-defendants also denied the charges brought against them and were subsequently acquitted by the jury, mirroring the outcome for the former minister.
During the course of the trial, a written statement from former president Goodluck Jonathan was presented and read in court. In his statement, Jonathan clarified that it was not an uncommon practice for third parties to cover expenses on behalf of ministers undertaking official overseas trips. He further confirmed that he had given approval for Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s use of private jets for certain foreign travels during her time in office.
In her defense, Diezani Alison-Madueke argued that her control over the allocation of oil contracts was significantly limited during her tenure as minister. She explained that decisions concerning such contracts typically underwent review and approval processes involving several agencies before they ultimately reached her office. Furthermore, she highlighted that the primary operational authority within the sector largely resided with the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, with the ministry primarily fulfilling an oversight function.