Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian petroleum minister and former president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has been charged with bribery offences following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
The NCA alleges that Mrs Alison-Madueke accepted bribes during her tenure as Minister for Petroleum Resources, in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts. The charges detail financial rewards including cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jets, luxury holidays, London properties, furniture, renovation work, staff, private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who currently resides in London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on October 2. The Head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit (ICU), Andy Kelly, has stated that the NCA suspects Mrs Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.
“Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, that enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries. We will continue to work with partners here and overseas to tackle the threat.”
Assets valued at millions of pounds, which are believed to be connected to the alleged offences, have been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation. In March of this year, the NCA provided evidence to the US Department of Justice, which led to the recovery of assets worth USD 53.1 million that were linked to Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.
Throughout the investigation, ICU officers have collaborated closely with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria, as well as with the NCA-hosted International Anti-Corruption Coordination Center.
The IACCC is a specialized organization that brings together anti-corruption investigators from various agencies worldwide to address allegations of corruption involving politically exposed individuals. Currently, the IACCC is operating in 37 different jurisdictions.
“The CPS made the decision to authorise the charge after reviewing a file of evidence from the NCA relating to allegations of bribery in Nigeria. Criminal proceedings against Ms Alison-Madueke are active and she has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information that could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
“The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider.”
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