Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been charged with bribery in the United Kingdom.

According to a Reuters report published on Tuesday, 22nd August 2023, the British police said they charged her with bribery offenses, following a National Crime Agency, NCA, investigation alleging she had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.

In March this year, 2023, the NCA also provided evidence to the US Department of Justice that enabled them to recover assets totaling $53.1 million linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.

Alison-Madueke was accused of receiving at least 100,000 pounds in cash, a fleet of chauffeur-driven cars, privately driven cars, private jet travel, opulent vacations for her family, and access to numerous houses in London.

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.

Andy Kelly, Head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit ICU

The charges against her also include specific financial benefits, such as furnishings, employees for property renovations, payment of private school tuition, and gifts from upscale luxury stores like Louis Vuitton products and Cartier jewelry.

 NCA disclosed that, as part of the investigation, assets related to the case worth millions of pounds have been frozen.

Diezani was a minister under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Story: Ihuoma Ukeje

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