Former Petroleum Minister and ex-OPEC president, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of bribery charges by a United Kingdom court after a lengthy trial that lasted five months.

According to her defence team, Alison-Madueke was cleared of six counts of bribery by Southwark Crown Court in London on June 17, bringing an end to a high-profile case pursued by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

The case stemmed from an investigation into alleged offences said to have occurred between 2011 and 2015 while she served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister.

Prosecutors had accused the former minister of accepting financial and other benefits from individuals linked to energy firms that secured contracts with Nigeria’s state-owned oil corporation during her tenure.

The NCA also alleged that Alison-Madueke enjoyed a lavish lifestyle funded by individuals seeking influence in the oil and gas sector. The allegations included the use of chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet travel, and the refurbishment and maintenance of several London properties.

However, her defence argued that critical records capable of proving her innocence were no longer available due to the long delay in bringing the charges. Defence lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw told the court that the delay had deprived his client of access to materials that could have supported her case.

Alison-Madueke maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings and denied all allegations when she was formally charged in 2023.

The former minister, who served as President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries between 2014 and 2015, has remained on bail in the UK since her arrest in October 2015.

Despite her acquittal in the UK case, Alison-Madueke has been linked to other legal proceedings and investigations in several jurisdictions, including the United States, relating to her time in public office.