Ex-Nigeria oil minister cleared in UK bribery trial

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Ex-Nigeria oil minister cleared in UK bribery trial11 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleSteve SwannGetty ImagesDiezani Alison-Madueke pictured in January on her way to the trial in Southwark. A former Nigerian oil minister has been cleared of taking bribes from wealthy oil executives in the form of luxury home stays and lavish spending sprees in the UK. Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, was found not guilty after a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court of five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Alison-Madueke was Nigeria's oil minister between 2010 and 2015 and the first female president of the oil exporters group Opec. The verdict is a blow for the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), which had been investigating one of Africa's most prominent political figures for 13 years. From the start of the trial in January, defence lawyers questioned the fairness of the prosecution's case, suggesting vital documents showing Alison-Madueke's innocence had gone missing in Nigeria.

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They also said the long delay in bringing the case to court was unjust and a sign of Britain's "broken criminal justice system". Also cleared by the jury were Alison-Madueke's older brother Doye Agama, 69, an archbishop at a Pentecostal church in Manchester, who was acquitted of conspiracy to commit bribery. Oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, was found not guilty of bribery and bribery of a foreign public official.

She had faced prosecution despite being an informant in an anti-corruption probe by the Nigerian authorities. 'Madam due process'Alison-Madueke portrayed herself in court as a role model for women, a tireless fighter against corruption, and someone who was such a stickler for the rules she was nicknamed "Madam due process". She became the first female member on the Nigerian board of oil and gas giant Shell in 2006, and four years later was appointed oil minister, the country's second most senior politician.

She became president of Opec in 2014. "In a very patriarchal society, to have a woman sitting at the helm was a major no-no," she told the court, suggesting this had made her a target for unnamed male opponents. Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC said the former minister improperly allowed powerful men with lucrative government contracts in the oil business to bankroll her extravagant lifestyle.

Six of them were named on the indictment, although none were charged. But the prosecution failed to provide evidence she awarded contracts to any of the oil tycoons named because of bribes. "At no time did I ask, take, ‌or ⁠seek a bribe or bribes of any sort," Alison-Madueke told the court, saying many of the luxury items purchased were not for her, and that she had been with the oil men to offer advice on interior design in their own properties.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.