Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum from Britain, has been formally charged with bribery-related offenses by the British police.
As reported by Reuters, authorities in the UK announced on Tuesday that they have reason to believe that she accepted bribes in exchange for granting significant oil and gas contracts worth millions of pounds.
The former minister, now 63 years old, held her position during the administration of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, serving from 2010 to 2015. Notably, she also assumed the role of president for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Andy Kelly, who is the Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit, spoke out about the charges. He stated, “We have reason to suspect that Diezani Alison-Madueke misused her authority in Nigeria, allegedly accepting financial incentives in return for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.”
Kelly further emphasized, “These charges mark a significant step in a comprehensive and intricate international investigation.”
The National Crime Agency revealed that the accusations against Alison-Madueke include her alleged receipt of benefits valued at over £100,000. These benefits encompassed cash payments, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet flights, lavish vacations for her family, and the utilization of multiple properties in London.
In addition to these allegations, the charges also outline various financial rewards, such as funding for property renovations and furnishings, payments for private school tuition, as well as gifts from renowned designer establishments including Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
Source: Vanguard
