*She was arraigned today on money laundering and bribery count
The one – time Nigeria Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was charged before Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London on Monday morning with bribery offences following an investigation by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
NCA leads the UK’s fight to cut serious and organised crime, protecting the public by targeting and pursuing criminals who pose the greatest risk to the UK.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, aged 63, who also served as president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was a key figure in President Goodluck Jonathan-led government between 2010 and 2015.
According to NCA, Diezani accepted bribes during her time as Minister for Petroleum Resources in exchange for awarding multi-million pound oil and gas contracts.
She was 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 detailed 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.
Aliso-Madueke, who currently lives in St John’s Wood, London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday, October 2, 2023.
On August 22, Head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit (ICU), Andy Kelly, said: “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million pound contracts”
Her charges also detailed 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.
