British police said they had charged former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke with bribery offenses, saying they suspected she had accepted bribes in return for awarding large oil and gas contracts. Alison-Madueke, 63, was a key figure in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, serving as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015. She also acted as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multimillion-pound contracts,” said Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.”
The NCA said Alison-Madueke was accused of benefitting from at least £100,000 in cash (about US$124,000), chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.