Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery charges by a London jury.
The landmark verdict was delivered on Thursday, June 17, 2026, after a five-month trial that attracted significant local and international attention. Bloomberg reported that the jury found her not guilty on all counts. Diezani, who served as Petroleum Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, had faced multiple allegations of bribery and corruption during her tenure, particularly related to oil industry contracts.
Her acquittal marks the end of a long legal battle in the United Kingdom, where she has been residing for several years.
The news has triggered mixed reactions across Nigeria. While some Nigerians expressed surprise and questioned the outcome, others argued that the case was politically motivated from the beginning. Several users on social media recalled how Diezani was heavily vilified during the early days of the Buhari administration, with massive media campaigns portraying her as one of the most corrupt public officials in Nigeria’s history.
Some comments suggested the case was used as propaganda against the Jonathan administration, while a few called for her to return to Nigeria and clear her name locally.
Diezani Alison-Madueke was one of the most powerful and controversial figures during the Jonathan administration. As the first female Minister of Petroleum, she oversaw the Nigerian oil sector at a time when oil prices were high, but the sector was also riddled with allegations of massive corruption.
She left Nigeria shortly after the APC government came to power in 2015 and has been facing various legal challenges in the UK since then.Her full acquittal is likely to reignite debates about high-profile corruption cases, the role of international courts in trying Nigerian officials, and the politicisation of anti-corruption efforts.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Diezani Alison-Madueke or her legal team regarding the verdict.
