Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian petroleum minister, has been accused in the United Kingdom of bribery and illicit transactions in the oil business worth millions of pounds.
According to a statement posted on the website of the UK’s National Crime Agency NCA on Tuesday, assets worth millions of pounds connected to the alleged offences have already been frozen from her as part of the ongoing investigation.
Mrs Alison-Madueke, 63, was a significant figure in the Nigerian government between 2010 and 2015. She also served as president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The News.ng had reported in July how photos of her and Murray-Bruce, a former senator from Bayelsa East surfaced online in which the former senator congratulated the embattled former Nigerian minister of Petroleum, on her son’s graduation from a university in the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, according to the UK publication, the NCA suspects she accepted bribes as Minister for Petroleum Resources in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.
She is accused of receiving at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeured automobiles, private jet flights, luxury vacations for her family, and the use of various London apartments.
Her charges also include financial incentives such as furnishings, restoration work, and personnel for the residences, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer stores such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton products.
“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” said Andy Kelly, Head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit (ICU).
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.
“Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries. We will continue to work with partners here and overseas to tackle the threat.” He said.