UK Jury Finds Diezani Alison-Madueke Not Guilty Of Six Bribery Charges

A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London has found former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke not guilty of six bribery-related charges brought by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency.

THISDAY reported that the former minister was acquitted of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery after the jury returned its verdict on June 17, 2026.

The charges were linked to alleged benefits during her tenure as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015. Prosecutors had alleged that she received or conspired to receive benefits including cash, private jet flights, chauffeur-driven cars and luxury goods connected to oil and gas contracts.

Alison-Madueke denied wrongdoing throughout the trial. THISDAY quoted her during testimony as saying, “At no time did I ask, take or seek a bribe,” and “I always sought to act impartially in all that I did.”

After the verdict, she was quoted as saying, “I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end.”

France24, citing AFP, also reported that she was cleared of six bribery charges after a five-month trial. THISDAY said her brother Doye Agama was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, while Olatimbo Ayinde was discharged or acquitted of two bribery counts.

The verdict applies to the UK bribery case tried at Southwark Crown Court. THISDAY noted that Alison-Madueke still faces separate corruption cases in Nigeria.

Sources: THISDAY, The Sun, France24.