UK Court Acquitts Diezani of All Corruption Charges
Testifying in her defence, Alison-Madueke rejected all allegations of wrongdoing.
She told the court that she never sought, requested or accepted bribes and did not abuse her public office.
Her legal team argued that the case was politically motivated and that investigators had wrongly interpreted financial transactions and benefits associated with her.
The trial, presided over by Justice Justine Thornton, focused on allegations said to have occurred between 2011 and 2015.
Had she been convicted under the United Kingdom’s anti-bribery laws, Alison-Madueke faced a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
The former minister was tried alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama.
Ayinde faced one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another count involving the alleged bribery of a foreign public official.
Agama was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery over alleged payments connected to his church.
Both men denied the allegations throughout the proceedings. However, on Wednesday, the jury also acquitted them of all charges.
