Breaking: UK government charges Diezani with bribery, fraud offence

The United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA) on Tuesday charged former President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Diezani Alison-Madueke, with bribery offences relating to her time as Nigeria’s oil minister.

Andy Kelly, the head of the NCA’s international corruption unit, said, “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.”

The NCA said Alison-Madueke allegedly benefited 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.

The charges also detail financial rewards, including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from top designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods.

Alison-Madueke, 63, has been on bail since first being arrested in London in October 2015. The NCA said she will appear in court in the British capital on October 2.

Soon after her arrest, her family’s lawyer told AFP she would vigorously contest corruption allegations that have dogged her during and after her time in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

Kelly explained:

“Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries.

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“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,”.

At the time of her arrest, the NCA said it had detained five people in London on suspicion of international corruption without naming those held.