London, United Kingdom – Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources and the first woman to serve as President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been cleared of bribery charges by a United Kingdom court following a lengthy trial.
According to a statement released by her defence team on Wednesday, Alison-Madueke was acquitted of six counts of bribery by the Southwark Crown Court on June 17, 2026, after a trial that lasted five months.
Defence lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw disclosed the verdict in a press release, stating that the former Nigerian minister had been cleared of all six charges brought against her during the proceedings.
The case had drawn significant attention both in Nigeria and internationally due to Alison-Madueke’s prominent role in the global oil industry. She served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 and made history as the first female President of OPEC in 2014.
The court’s decision marks a major legal victory for Alison-Madueke, who has faced various allegations and investigations in different jurisdictions since leaving office. Her legal team welcomed the verdict, emphasizing that the court had found her not guilty of the bribery charges after examining the evidence presented during the trial.
The acquittal is expected to generate reactions from political, legal, and energy sector stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond, given the high-profile nature of the case and Alison-Madueke’s influence during her tenure in public office.
Further details surrounding the judgment and any possible implications are expected to emerge in the coming days.
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