A former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been charged with bribery offenses following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.
Ms. Alison-Madueke, 63, who also served as president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was a key figure in the Nigerian government between 2010 and 2015.
The NCA suspects that she accepted bribes during her time as Minister of Petroleum Resources, in exchange for awarding multi-million pound oil and gas contracts.
He is alleged to have benefited from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeured cars, private jet flights, luxury holidays for his family and the use of multiple London properties.
Their charges also detail financial rewards including furniture, renovation work and staffing for the properties, private school tuition and gifts from high-end designer stores such as Cartier jewelry and Louis Vuitton products.
Ms Alison-Madueke, who currently lives in St John’s Wood, London, will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court on 2 October.
Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit (ICU), said: “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused his power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million dollar contracts.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a comprehensive and complex international investigation.
“Bribery is a widespread form of corruption, which enables serious crimes to be committed and can have devastating consequences for developing countries. We will continue to work with partners here and abroad to address the threat.”
Millions of pounds worth of assets related to the alleged crimes have already been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.
In March this year, the NCA also provided evidence to the US Department of Justice enabling it to recover assets totaling US$53.1 million linked to the alleged corruption of Ms. Alison-Madueke.
UCI officers also worked closely with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission during the investigation, as well as the NCA-hosted International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre.
The IACCC brings together specialist anti-corruption investigators from agencies around the world to address allegations of corruption involving politically exposed persons. He is currently working in 37 different jurisdictions.
Andrew Penhale, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized the NCA to charge Diezani Alison-Madueke with bribery offences.
“The CPS made the decision to authorize the charge after reviewing an NCA evidence file related to bribery allegations in Nigeria.
“Criminal proceedings against Ms. Alison-Madueke are active and she is entitled to a fair trial.
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“It is extremely important that there are no reports, comments or exchange of information that could in any way impair these proceedings.
“CPS’s role is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offense, but to make fair, independent, and objective assessments of whether it is appropriate to bring charges for consideration by a criminal court.”
FOUNTAIN: National Crime Agency
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