Diezani Alison-Madueke Cleared Of Bribery Charges In London Southwark Crown Court

Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian oil minister and first female president of Opec, was found not guilty at London’s Southwark Crown Court after a trial on five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) had brought the case after a years-long investigation into alleged offences between 2011 and 2015, and the verdict was described as a blow for the NCA.

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Defence lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw said in a statement that Alison-Madueke was cleared of six charges of bribery on 17 June 2026 after a five-month trial.

The Independent reported that the NCA confirmed she was cleared of five counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, and it said the 65-year-old had consistently denied claims that she lived a "life of luxury" in the UK.

In the trial, defence lawyers questioned the fairness of the prosecution’s case and suggested vital documents showing Alison-Madueke’s innocence had gone missing in Nigeria, while they also argued the long delay in bringing the case to court was unjust.

BBC coverage quoted Alison-Madueke telling the court, "At no time did I ask, take, or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort," as she portrayed herself as "Madam due process" and denied improper influence over contracts.

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BBC also quoted prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC saying the former minister improperly allowed powerful men with lucrative government contracts to bankroll her extravagant lifestyle.

The Independent reported that the NCA said it respected the decision of the jury but did not comment further, while it described prosecutors’ allegations including that Alison-Madueke was accused of receiving £100,000 in cash.

The acquittal came alongside not-guilty verdicts for other defendants, including Alison-Madueke’s older brother Doye Agama, 69, and oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, according to multiple reports.

Reuters via Internazionale said the verdicts followed more than 46 hours of jury deliberation and described the outcome as a major blow to British authorities who began their investigation more than a decade ago.

Sowetan quoted Alison-Madueke saying in a statement, "For 11 long, gruelling years this case has hung over my head and has tormented me and my family," after the jury cleared her on Wednesday.

The Independent framed the case as a test for the NCA’s ability to tackle allegations of corruption even when it originated beyond the UK, and it noted that Alison-Madueke had been accused of receiving benefits including access to a private jet and a chauffeur-driven car.