“My Nightmare Is Over” — Diezani Alison-Madueke Acquitted of All UK Bribery Charges

Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been found not guilty of six bribery charges by a London jury, ending an 11-year corruption saga that gripped Nigeria’s political and energy circles.

On Wednesday, a jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court acquitted the 65-year-old ex-minister of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. The trial, which began in January 2026, concluded after more than 46 hours of jury deliberation.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan, had denied all allegations. Prosecutors claimed she was given “a life of luxury” in London, including high-end properties, shopping sprees, and private jet travel by oil and gas figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria.

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Alison-Madueke told the court she “never took any bribes and had no real influence over the awarding of contracts”. Her lawyers argued the spending cited was either reimbursed by the Nigerian state for official business or paid personally. She described herself in evidence as “Madame Due Process”. 

The not-guilty verdict is being called a “major blow to British authorities,” who began investigating Alison-Madueke more than a decade ago. Campaign group Spotlight on Corruption said the case “exposed just how tough it is to investigate and prosecute alleged corruption involving political elites”. 

Two co-defendants were also cleared, oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, who faced charges linked to payments to Agama’s church. 

In a statement, Alison-Madueke said, “For 11 long, gruelling years this case has hung over my head and has tormented me and my family... my nightmare is over”. 

Speaking to News Central, she added, “I’m just thankful to God. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, friends, my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and for my son... God is not a man that he should lie”. 

The acquittal ends one of the UK’s most high-profile international corruption trials. Alison-Madueke was Nigeria’s first female petroleum minister and briefly served as OPEC president. Social media lit up after the verdict, with supporters calling it vindication and critics questioning the outcome of the decade-long probe. 

After 11 years, a UK court says the former “Iron Lady” of Nigerian oil walks free. For Diezani, it’s closure. For anti-corruption campaigners, it’s a reminder of how hard these cases are to win.