A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of bribery charges against her.
The former Minister, 65, who had been standing trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court was on Wednesday cleared of five count charges of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
She was accused of accepting gratification from wealthy oil executives in the form of luxury home stays and lavish spending sprees in the UK
BBC also reported that cleared also with her by the jury were Alison-Madueke’s older brother Doye Agama, 69, an archbishop at a Pentecostal church in Manchester, who was acquitted of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC said the former minister improperly allowed powerful men with lucrative government contracts in the oil business to bankroll her extravagant lifestyle.
Six of them were named on the indictment, although none were charged.
But the prosecution failed to provide evidence she awarded contracts to any of the oil tycoons named because of bribes.
“At no time did I ask, take, or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort,” Alison-Madueke told the court, adding many of the luxury items purchased were not for her, and that she had been with the oil men to offer advice on interior design in their own properties.
BBC added that Alison-Madueke told the court that Nigerian ministers were not allowed to hold foreign bank accounts when on service overseas, and her department’s office in London was in such disarray that she relied on wealthy businessmen funding her living expenses.
She said they were always reimbursed in Nigeria and evidence proving this had been seized from her home in Abuja but never produced by the authorities there.
Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who had appointed ,did not appear as a witness. But he provided a statement in which he said third parties would often pay for transport, accommodation and other items for ministers on official overseas business.
In a statement by Bolouere Opukiri for Allison-Madueke, the former Minister expressed joy at ger acquittal.
She said: “Today, at Southwark Crown Court, I was acquitted of all charges brought against me.
“For eleven arduous years, this matter has weighed heavily upon me and my family. Today, a decade of unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny has finally concluded.
“I give thanks to Almighty God for His faithfulness and for the complete vindication I have received. I am grateful to my legal counsel for their diligence, and to my family and friends for their steadfast support and encouragement throughout this period.
“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end.
“This, however, is not the final chapter. In due course, I shall address this difficult period in greater detail and share my intentions for the future. For now, I intend to embrace the freedom that has been unjustly denied me for many years.”
