Ex-Petroleum Minister Faces Bribery Charges In UK Court

Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, appeared in a London court on Monday, facing charges related to bribery, as reported by Reuters.

The charges against the former minister encompass allegations of receiving bribes in the form of cash, along with receiving luxury goods, private jet flights, and access to high-end properties in Britain, all in exchange for awarding oil contracts.

Alison-Madueke’s arrest in London took place in 2015, shortly after the conclusion of her term, and she was officially charged with six bribery offenses in August.

For the past eight years, she has been on police bail, residing in the upscale St John’s Wood neighborhood in London.

Her initial court appearance transpired at Westminster Magistrates Court, where she only provided her name, date of birth, and address. No plea was requested during this appearance.

As per Reuters, the charges against her, detailed in court, pertain to events alleged to have occurred in London while she served as a Nigerian minister.

Prosecutor Andy Young alleged that she accepted various benefits, both monetary and in kind, from individuals seeking or maintaining lucrative oil contracts, collectively valued in billions of dollars.

These benefits included a cash delivery of £100,000 ($121,620), payment of private school fees for her son, and utilization and renovation of multiple lavish properties in London and the English countryside.

Additionally, they encompassed the use of a Range Rover vehicle, payment of expenses related to chauffeur-driven cars, furniture purchases, and shopping at upscale establishments like Harrods and Vincenzo Caffarella, known for Italian decorative arts and antiques.

While London has historically attracted wealthy members of Nigeria’s political elite, as a former colonial ruler, it has also been a hub for money laundering. However, it remains relatively unusual for public figures like Alison-Madueke to face prosecution for corruption-related offenses.