Crime

UK Police charges ex-petroleum minister, Diezani with bribery

Published

1 year ago

August 22, 2023

The British police have charged Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke with bribery offences.

According to Reuters, the UK National Crime Agency on Tuesday said they suspected Diezani had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.

The 63-year-old was a former President of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and served during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, from 2010 to 2015 as minister.

The NCA alleged that Alison-Madueke was benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.

Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit, said; “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts. These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.”

The NCA further revealed that Diezani will appear in court in the British capital on October 2, 2023.

The charges also detail financial rewards including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from top designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods.

“Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries.

“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” Kelly added.

Soon after her arrest, her family’s lawyer told AFP she would strongly contest corruption allegations that have dogged her during and after her time in former president Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

Reuters said charges against her also detail financial rewards including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods.

Alison-Madueke has been living in the upmarket St John’s Wood area of north London since she was first arrested, and undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer, according to her family.

At the time of her arrest, the NCA said only it had detained five people in London on suspicion of international corruption, without naming those held.