A Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, has acquitted former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of bribery charges brought against her.
The former minister was cleared of all six counts by a jury after more than 46 hours of deliberations, bringing an end to the high-profile trial.
During the proceedings, a written statement by former President Goodluck Jonathan was presented and read in open court.
In the statement, Jonathan told the court that it was not unusual for third parties to make payments on behalf of government ministers undertaking official duties abroad.
The former president also stated that he had approved Alison-Madueke’s use of private aircraft for some overseas engagements carried out in her capacity as minister.
The acquittal marks a significant development in a case that attracted widespread attention in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Further details of the court’s ruling were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.
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