Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke Monday morning, October 2, 2023, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London to answer.
She had on August 22 been charged to court by the United Kingdom (UK) government over an alleged £100,000 bribe. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said they suspected Diezani had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.
“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,” said Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s International Corruption Unit.
The NCA said Alison-Madueke was accused of benefitting from at least 100,000 pounds in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.
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 jewelry and Louis Vuitton goods, the NCA said.
British police say she is currently living in St John’s Wood, an upmarket area of West London.
Alison-Madueke, 63, was a key figure in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, serving as petroleum resources minister from 2010 to 2015.
She also served as president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
The once powerful minister is equally being probed by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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