UK police charge former petroleum minister Alison-Madueke with bribery

This was following an investigation conducted by the following National Crime Agency (NCA), Reuters reported.

According to the NCA, Madueke had accepted bribes during her time as Minister for Petroleum Resources, in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.

She is alleged to have benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.

Her charges 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 jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods, BBC News Pidgin report added.

Madueke, who currently lives in St John’s Wood, London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday, October 2nd, 2023.

Alison-Madueke, 63, was a key figure in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, serving as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015.

She also acted as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” said Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit.

“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” she added.