Photo: Diezani Alison-Madueke

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all six bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom.

A jury at the Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday cleared the former minister after a 12-week trial in which she faced five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Alison-Madueke, 65, who served as petroleum minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, had denied all the allegations.

The jury returned its verdict after 46 hours of deliberations.

Prosecutors had alleged that Alison-Madueke received benefits from oil and gas industry figures seeking favourable treatment in the award of contracts in Nigeria during her tenure.

The prosecution told the court that she lived a luxurious lifestyle in London and allegedly benefited from cash payments, private jet travel, chauffeur-driven vehicles, luxury shopping expenses and high-value properties.

The alleged benefits included £100,000 in cash, more than £2 million spent on luxury shopping at Harrods, £4.6 million for property refurbishments and payments for household staff at luxury homes in London and Buckinghamshire.

In her defence, Alison-Madueke maintained that she neither requested nor accepted bribes and did not abuse her office.

Her legal team argued that the allegations were politically motivated and that investigators had misrepresented payments and benefits linked to her.The trial, presided over by Justice Justine Thornton, focused on allegations said to have occurred between 2011 and 2015.

Alison’s faced up to 10 years in prison and an unlimited fine if convicted under UK anti-bribery laws.

She was tried alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama.

Ayinde faced one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another count involving the bribery of a foreign public official, while Agama was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery over alleged payments linked to his church.Both men denied the allegations and were also acquitted by the jury.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to June 25, 2026, the hearing of a lawsuit seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a fresh, thorough investigation into the death of Afrobeats singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

The case, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, was slated for hearing on Wednesday, June 17, but was postponed due to ongoing terrorism trials occupying the court.

The suit, filed by the Registered Trustees of Break the Silence Foundation, is praying for an order of mandamus compelling the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to carry out a diligent, impartial, and comprehensive reinvestigation into the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death.

Mohbad, aged 27, died on September 12, 2023. His death sparked widespread controversy and public outcry, leading to the arrest of several persons of interest by the Lagos State Police Command.

Those arrested include his childhood friend Oluwatosin Owoduni (Primeboy), singer Naira Marley, music promoter Sam Larry, and auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who allegedly administered injections to him at his residence.

The Federal Government has launched FreeTV, a new digital television platform aimed at expanding access to quality broadcasting and ushering in a new era of free digital television for millions of Nigerians.

The initiative, unveiled on June 17, forms part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch – Over (DSO) programme and is designed to provide households with access to over 100 television channels without monthly subscription fees.

Viewers will be able to enjoy a wide range of content, including news, sports, movies, music, educational programmes, children’s content and dedicated indigenous language channels.

With coverage extending beyond major cities to rural and underserved communities, the platform will be accessible through satellite and terrestrial transmission, as well as the  FreeTV mobile application.

The government said that Nigerians do not need to purchase new television sets, as existing TVs can function with compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders, while many users with free-to-air decoders may already be equipped to access the service.

According to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the platform aligns with ongoing efforts to deepen digital inclusion and ensure that more Nigerians benefit from technological advancements regardless of their location or income level.

The initiative is also expected to boost local content production and create employment opportunities across the creative and broadcasting industries.

(The Guardian)