Former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been formally charged by British police for bribery offenses. The authorities suspect her involvement in accepting bribes in exchange for granting lucrative oil and gas contracts worth millions of pounds.
Alison-Madueke, aged 63, held a prominent role during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan, serving as the petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015. Notably, she also assumed the position of the president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Andy Kelly, the Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit, remarked, “Our investigation suggests that Diezani Alison-Madueke misused her authority in Nigeria and received financial incentives in return for awarding these multi-million-pound contracts. These charges represent a significant milestone in a comprehensive and intricate international inquiry.”
The NCA disclosed that Alison-Madueke faces allegations involving the receipt of over 100,000 pounds in cash, access to chauffeur-driven vehicles, utilization of private jet flights, extravagant vacations for her family, and the occupancy of numerous high-end properties in London.
The charges further outline various financial advantages, encompassing expenses such as furniture procurement, property renovations, staffing arrangements, funding for private school tuition, and opulent gifts from prestigious designer outlets such as Cartier and Louis Vuitton, as stated by the NCA.
Despite persistently facing accusations of corruption since her departure from office, Alison-Madueke vehemently denies these charges. Presently, she resides in the upscale neighborhood of St John’s Wood in western London. Her scheduled appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court is set for October 2nd.