Former OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke has been charged with bribery in the UK, following an investigation by the country’s National Crime Agency.
Alison-Madueke, 63, is accused of accepting bribes during her time as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources in exchange for oil and gas contracts, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday. The former minister is alleged to have benefited from at least £100,000 ($127,300) in cash, as well as flights on private jets and luxury holidays.
A lawyer for Alison-Madueke in Nigeria was not immediately available for comment.
“We suspect that Diezani Alison-Madueke abused his power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards to award multi-million pound contracts,” said Andy Kelly, the head of the ANC’s international corruption unit.
Alison-Madueke, who lives in north London, is said to have accepted furniture, renovation works and staff at the properties, as well as payment of private school fees.
