Former OPEC President, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been accused of bribery offenses connected to her tenure as Nigeria's oil minister, as announced by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) on Tuesday.
The 63-year-old Alison-Madueke had been granted bail after her initial arrest in London back in October 2015. The NCA revealed that she is scheduled to stand trial in a court in London on October 2.
Following her initial detention, her family's legal representative informed AFP that she would vehemently challenge the allegations of corruption that have followed her throughout and beyond her time serving in former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration. From 2010 to 2015, Alison-Madueke held the position of Nigeria's oil minister, becoming both the first woman to hold this role in the country and the first female president of the global oil consortium, OPEC.
In a statement, Andy Kelly, the leader of NCA's international corruption unit, expressed suspicions that Diezani Alison-Madueke had misused her authority in Nigeria, accepting financial gratifications in exchange for granting lucrative contracts. The NCA's investigations suggest that she received benefits worth at least £100,000 ($127,000), including cash, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet trips, lavish vacations for her family, and the occupation of several properties in London. The charges further outline various financial advantages, encompassing furnishings, property renovations, staffing for these accommodations, private school fees, as well as presents from distinguished luxury brands like Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
Kelly emphasized the widespread negative impact of bribery on nations in development, referring to it as a deeply entrenched form of corruption with far-reaching implications. He regarded the charges against Alison-Madueke as a significant milestone in an exhaustive international inquiry. The former oil minister has been residing in the upscale neighborhood of St John's Wood in north London since her initial arrest. She has also undergone breast cancer chemotherapy, according to her family.
Upon her detention, the NCA had announced the apprehension of five individuals in London suspected of involvement in international corruption, withholding their identities. Nigeria's administration under Muhammadu Buhari, who succeeded Jonathan, subsequently confirmed Alison-Madueke's arrest and stated their collaborative efforts with British law enforcement agencies. The NCA also reported the freezing of multimillion-pound assets related to the case, as part of the ongoing investigation. In March, the agency furnished evidence to the US Department of Justice, leading to the retrieval of $53.1 million in assets allegedly tied to Alison-Madueke's alleged corrupt activities.
0 Comments