A London jury has acquitted former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke of six bribery-related charges after a trial that lasted more than a decade. The charges, brought in the UK, alleged that between 2011 and 2015 Alison-Madueke accepted bribes and conspired to commit bribery, using illicit Nigerian oil revenues to finance a lavish lifestyle in London.

The prosecution accused Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister and was once president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of accepting expensive gifts including a £25,000 Chanel handbag, a £22,000 Alexander McQueen rug, and high-end fitness equipment. They further alleged that wealthy oil executives and businesspeople sought to curry favor with her by providing luxury services such as chefs, housekeepers, nannies, chauffeurs, and private jet travel. The trial featured claims that associates of Alison-Madueke purchased upscale properties in London and Buckinghamshire for her family’s use.

Among those accused alongside Alison-Madueke were Nigerian businesswoman Olatimbo Ayinde and Alison-Madueke’s brother, Bishop Doye Agama. Both were found not guilty on their respective charges of bribery and conspiracy.

During the trial, Alison-Madueke denied all allegations of corruption, asserting that any items or expenses covered by associates were loans properly reimbursed. She testified that payments on her Nigerian credit cards had often failed and that her husband covered family expenses, while official ministerial expenses were reimbursed by the Nigerian government. The former minister said she kept receipts as evidence, but these went missing following a politically motivated raid on her Abuja home.

Alison-Madueke portrayed herself as an anti-corruption reformer who confronted entrenched corrupt interests in Nigeria’s oil sector—a sector she described as “endemic” with corruption since colonial times. She said her attempts to dismantle powerful networks and support smaller indigenous operators had made her a target of hostility, including intimidation of her family and the kidnapping of her sister. The former minister also cited Nigeria’s cultural norms of gift-giving and respect for leaders as explanations for why associates might have paid for some of her expenses without solicitation.

The judge, Mrs Justice Justine Thornton, instructed the jury that if they found the purchases and expenses “may have been” properly reimbursed, then they were not improper, a key legal element in the acquittal.

Legal observers noted the verdict dealt a significant setback to UK authorities, particularly the National Crime Agency (NCA), which had invested years in the investigation. Zainab Saleem, a legal fellow at the UK-based charity Spotlight on Corruption, described the outcome as a major challenge in prosecuting alleged corruption among political elites, highlighting the complexities such cases present.

Following the verdict, both the Crown Prosecution Service and NCA said they respected the jury’s decision. Alison-Madueke expressed relief, calling the acquittal a vindication after more than a decade of scrutiny and public vilification.