BREAKING: UK Court Acquits Diezani In Corruption Trial

A London jury, on Wednesday, acquitted Alison-Madueke after a 12-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, where she faced five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
The 65-year-old former minister, who served under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, had denied all allegations.
The jury delivered the verdict after 46 hours of deliberation.
Prosecutors had alleged that Alison-Madueke received benefits from oil and gas industry figures seeking favourable treatment for contracts in Nigeria during her tenure as petroleum minister.
The prosecution told the court that she lived a “life of luxury” in London and allegedly received cash payments, private jet travel, chauffeur-driven vehicles, luxury shopping expenses, and acquired high-value properties.
The alleged benefits included £100,000 in cash, more than £2m spent on luxury shopping at Harrods, £4.6 million for property refurbishments, and payments for household staff at luxury homes in London and Buckinghamshire.
Alison-Madueke, however, said she never requested or accepted bribes.
Testifying in her defence, she told the court that she did not abuse her office and did not ask, seek or solicit bribes.
Her lawyers argued that the allegations were part of a political campaign against her and that investigators had misrepresented payments and benefits linked to her.
The trial, presided over by Justice Justine Thornton, focused on allegations that occurred between 2011 and 2015, while Alison-Madueke was Nigeria’s petroleum minister.
She faced up to 10 years in prison and an unlimited fine if convicted under UK anti-bribery laws.
Alison-Madueke was tried alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, and her brother, Doye Agama, 69.
Ayinde faced one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another count involving bribery of a foreign public official, while Agama was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery over alleged payments linked to his church.
Both denied the allegations and were also acquitted by the jury.
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