Di long tori wey last over 11 years don finally close for London. Southwark Crown Court jury don acquit former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of all six bribery charges wey dem bring against am.
Di jury wey dey hear di case spend more dan 46 hours dey deliberate before dem come discharge am of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Dis verdict na big blow for British prosecutors and di National Crime Agency (NCA) wey start di investigation over 11 years ago.
Diezani, wey be 65 years old now, serve as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. Dem accuse am say im receive luxury gifts and benefits from oil industry executives wey want influence for Nigeria oil sector contracts.
Prosecutors claim say she enjoy “life of luxury” wey businessmen wey get interest for Nigeria petroleum industry fund am. Di list of items wey dem mention include luxury travel, furniture, handbags and other high-value benefits.
But Diezani don always say she no collect any bribe or use her office to favour anybody or company. When she testify for her own defence, she tell di court say she no dey solicit meetings with oil executives. She explain say many of di interactions and travel arrangements wey prosecutors mention na other people initiate, not her.
She also tell di court say she dey undergo cancer treatment during part of di period wey dem dey investigate. She add say her health affect her memory of some events. Di former minister maintain say she no dey responsible for logistics like travel and accommodation, because government agencies, especially di Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), dey handle those things.
