The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) announced on Tuesday that they have charged Nigeria’s former oil minister and OPEC president, Diezani Alison-Madueke with bribery relating offences. The head of the NCA’s international corruption unit, Andy Kelly, said in a statement: “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million pound oil and gas contracts while in governement.”
According to the head of the NCA international corruption unit, Alison-Madueke is alleged to have benefitted from at least £100,000 ($127,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.
Her charges also detail financial rewards including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewelry and Louis Vuitton goods.
The agency added that 63 year-old Alison-Madueke, who currently resides in London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on October 2. She has been on bail since first being arrested in London in October 2015. She has previously denied any wrongdoing.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” said Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit. “Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which 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.”
The National Crime Agency added that assets related to the alleged offenses – worth millions of pounds – have been frozen as part of the investigation.
