How Former Oil Minister Diezani ‘Took Bribes Worth Millions of Pounds’

UK, (iexclusivenews) – Diezani Alison-Madueke, who once headed the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is facing six charges of bribery in the UK.

She is accused of receiving lavish gifts and cash from people who wanted to secure lucrative oil and gas contracts in Nigeria.

The Bribery Charges Against Diezani Alison-Madueke

On Monday, October 2, 2023, Diezani Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court for the first time since her arrest in 2015.

She only spoke to confirm her name, date of birth and address, and did not enter a plea.

According to the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which has been investigating her case for years.

She allegedly accepted bribes worth at least £100,000 ($127,000) in exchange for awarding oil and gas contracts worth billions of dollars in total.

The NCA said the bribes included:

– Cash deliveries to her London home

– Payment of private school fees for her son

– Use and refurbishment of several luxury properties in London and the countryside

– Use of a Range Rover car and chauffeur-driven cars

– Furniture, antiques and jewelry from high-end shops such as Harrods and Vincenzo Caffarella

The NCA also said it had frozen assets related to the alleged offenses, which are estimated to be worth millions of pounds.

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The Rise and Fall of Diezani Alison-Madueke

Diezani Alison-Madueke was a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political scene. She served as the minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

She was also the first female president of OPEC in 2014.

Diezani was widely seen as one of Jonathan’s closest allies and one of the most powerful women in Africa.

However, she also faced numerous allegations of corruption, mismanagement and abuse of power during her tenure.

She was accused of overseeing the disappearance of billions of dollars from Nigeria’s oil revenues.

Awarding contracts to cronies and relatives, and interfering with the operations of state-owned oil companies.

She has denied all the allegations against her and claimed they were politically motivated by her enemies.

The Implications of the Case for Nigeria and the UK

The case against Alison-Madueke is one of the most high-profile corruption cases involving a Nigerian official in recent years.

It is also a rare example of a public figure facing prosecution for money laundering in the UK, which is known as a global hub for illicit financial flows⁶.

The case could have significant implications for both countries’ efforts to combat corruption and recover stolen assets.

For Nigeria, it could boost the anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to power in 2015 on a promise to end graft and recover looted funds.

Buhari has repeatedly accused Jonathan’s administration of plundering the country’s oil wealth and leaving it in economic crisis.

Buhari’s government has also been working with the UK and other countries to trace and repatriate assets linked to Alison-Madueke and other former officials.

In March 2023, the US Department of Justice announced that it had recovered $53.1 million from assets allegedly bought with bribes paid by Alison-Madueke.

For the UK, it could demonstrate its commitment to tackling money laundering and enforcing its anti-bribery laws.

The UK has been criticized for being a safe haven for corrupt politicians and businessmen from around the world who use its financial system and property market to hide and launder their illicit wealth.

The UK has also been cooperating with Nigeria and other countries to return stolen assets and support their anti-corruption reforms.

In 2016, the UK hosted an anti-corruption summit where it pledged to increase transparency and accountability in its financial sector.

The trial date for Alison-Madueke has not been set yet. She remains on police bail and lives in St John’s Wood, an affluent area of London. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison.