A London court has acquitted former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke of all charges in her long-running bribery trial.
The Southwark Crown Court delivered the verdict on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
After more than 46 hours of deliberation, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all six charges against Diezani Alison-Madueke. She had been facing five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Her brother, Doye Agama, and oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who were also standing trial on related charges, were equally acquitted by the jury.
The case, which lasted nearly four months, centred on allegations that Diezani received bribes, including cash, luxury goods, property benefits, and other favours, in exchange for awarding oil contracts during her time as minister between 2010 and 2015.
Diezani had denied all the charges throughout the trial. Her defence team argued that she had no direct control over the awarding of contracts and that the prosecution failed to prove any corrupt arrangement.
Prosecutors had alleged that she lived a lavish lifestyle in London funded by bribes from oil businessmen seeking government contracts in Nigeria.
The not guilty verdict brings an end to a high-profile case that had been closely watched in Nigeria and internationally.
The acquittal has generated widespread reactions on social media and in political circles. Some Nigerians have welcomed the verdict, describing it as justice served, while others have expressed surprise given the length and intensity of the investigation and trial.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was also the first female President of OPEC, has remained in the United Kingdom throughout the proceedings.
With the court’s decision, the UK bribery case against Diezani and her co-defendants has now been concluded. It remains to be seen whether Nigerian authorities will pursue any further domestic actions in relation to the matter.
The verdict marks a significant development in one of the most prominent corruption trials involving a former Nigerian public official to be heard abroad.
