In a significant development, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has officially charged Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, with bribery offenses. Alison-Madueke, who was arrested in London in October 2015, has been on bail since then.
According to the NCA, Alison-Madueke is set to appear in a British court in the capital city on October 2 of this year. Her family’s legal representative has confirmed her intention to contest the allegations of corruption, which have continued to linger from her tenure as a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The head of the NCA’s international corruption unit, Andy Kelly, underscored the gravity of the charges. In a statement, Kelly said, “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million pound contracts.”
The NCA’s allegations point to a pattern of financial gain, with Alison-Madueke allegedly receiving perks such as cash sums amounting to at least £100,000 ($127,000), chauffeur-driven cars, private jet travel, lavish family vacations, and the utilization of multiple upscale properties in London.
Further details from the AFP highlight additional financial benefits, including furniture, property renovations, staffing for her properties, private school fees, and luxury gifts from renowned designer shops such as Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
Kelly emphasized the broader implications of bribery, stating, “Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries. These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.”
Alison-Madueke’s living situation in London’s upscale St John’s Wood area and her reported struggle with breast cancer have added personal dimensions to the legal proceedings.
As the case unfolds, the Nigerian government, under the leadership of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has confirmed Alison-Madueke’s arrest and has indicated a cooperative stance in collaboration with UK law enforcement agencies.
The NCA’s actions include the freezing of assets valued in the millions of pounds as part of the ongoing investigation. In a separate development, the NCA furnished evidence to the US Department of Justice, aiding the recovery of assets totaling $53.1 million connected to the alleged corruption attributed to Alison-Madueke.