JUST IN: Wanted Alison-Madueke Arrives In London Court Over Bribery Charges

Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, late Monday morning, October 2, 2023 appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London to answer for case of Bribery.

She had been charged to court by the United Kingdom (UK) government over an alleged £100,000 bribe on August 22nd.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said that Diezani is under suspicion of accepting bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.

British police also said they suspect she had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pounds oil and gas contracts, as reported by Reuters.

“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 profitting from at minimum 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 states 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, 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).

In October, 2022, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties and two luxury cars belonging to Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.

The two properties are located at Plot 1854 Mohammed Mahashir Street and No. 6, Aso Drive in Abuja’s highbrow Asokoro and Maitama Districts, respectively, and are valued at $2,674,418 and N380m.

The luxury cars are a black BMW saloon with chassis number B8CV54V66629 and registration number RBC155 DH and a black Jaguar saloon with chassis number SAJAA.20 GRDMv43376, valued at N36m.

The judge gave the order forfeiting the assets to the Federal Government while ruling on the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in suit No. 1122/2021 and Suit No. 1123/2021, asking for the final forfeiture of the assets.