Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been charged with bribery offenses in the UK. She is suspected of accepting financial rewards in exchange for awarding multi-million dollar oil and gas contracts during her time as oil minister.
Assets related to the alleged offenses have been frozen, and the UK’s National Crime Agency has described these charges as a milestone in its ongoing investigation.
Alison-Madueke, who served as the first female president of the oil exporters group OPEC, has denied the corruption allegations. She will appear in Westminster Magistrates Court on October 2.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” Andy Kelly, from the NCA’s International Corruption Unit, said.
The NCA says Ms Alison-Madueke, who served as oil minister from 2010 until 2015, is alleged to have benefited from:
- At least £100,000 ($127,000) in cash
- Chauffeur-driven cars
- Flights on private jets
- Luxury family holidays
- Use of multiple London properties
- Furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties
- Payment of private school fees
- Gifts from designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods.
