Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Nigeria’s former oil minister, has been formally charged with bribery offenses tied to her tenure as the country’s oil minister, according to a statement by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) on Tuesday.
According to Channels Television, Alison-Madueke, aged 63, had previously been arrested in London in October 2015 and has been out on bail since. She is set to appear in a London court on October 2, as announced by the NCA.
Amid the allegations, Alison-Madueke’s family lawyer had previously stated her intent to contest the corruption accusations that have surrounded her since her time in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.
Serving as oil minister from 2010 to 2015, Alison-Madueke was a trailblazer in Nigerian politics, becoming the first female oil minister in the country and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC.
Andy Kelly, the head of the NCA’s international corruption unit, stated, “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million pound contracts.”
The NCA’s charges against her detail alleged benefits including cash amounting to at least £100,000 ($127,000), chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, luxury family holidays, and the use of multiple London properties. These charges also encompass rewards such as furniture, renovation work, private school fees, and gifts from luxury brands such as Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
Kelly emphasized the far-reaching impact of bribery, highlighting its role in facilitating serious criminal activities and its devastating consequences for developing nations. He praised the charges as a significant milestone in a meticulous and intricate international investigation.
Since her initial arrest, Alison-Madueke has resided in the affluent St John’s Wood area of North London and has undergone treatment for breast cancer, as per her family’s statements. Assets valued in the millions of pounds linked to the case have been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.
This development is the latest chapter in the saga surrounding Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption, adding to the international effort to address financial misconduct on a global scale.
Diamond08 (
)
