Details emerging from the United Kingdom are that Diezani Allison-Madueke, a former Petroleum Minister in Nigeria under former President Goodluck Jonathan has been charged with Bribery.
ENigeria Newspaper reports that according to Reuters, Diezani has been charged with bribery-related offenses by the UK Police on Tuesday after she was suspected to have accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-billion-pound oil and gas contracts.
Speaking about the charges, Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit, said, “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.”
Diezani, an ex-minister who also doubled as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was accused by the UK Police of having benefited from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.
Reuters reports that charges against 63-year-old 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.
More on this shortly.
