Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery charges against her following a high-profile corruption trial in the United Kingdom.

A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday, June 17, found the 65-year-old not guilty on six counts, including five charges of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Alison-Madueke had consistently denied all allegations throughout the proceedings.

Prosecutors alleged that while serving as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alison-Madueke received significant benefits from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria. According to the prosecution, she was provided with what was described as “a life of luxury” in London in exchange for influence over the award of energy contracts.

However, Alison-Madueke maintained that she never accepted bribes and did not possess the authority to directly determine the allocation of government contracts. Following more than 46 hours of jury deliberations, the court returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on all six charges.

The acquittal marks a significant setback for British authorities, whose investigation into allegations involving the former minister began more than a decade ago. Alison-Madueke also served as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), becoming the first woman to hold the position.

Two co-defendants were also cleared of charges. Oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who faced one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another count of bribing a foreign public official, was found not guilty.

Similarly, Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, 69, who was accused of conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with payments allegedly made to his church, was acquitted by the jury. The verdict concludes one of the most closely watched corruption cases involving a former senior Nigerian government official in the United Kingdom.

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The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 36-year-old security guard attached to an Islamiyya school in Jega Local Government Area for allegedly def!ling a 10-year-old girl.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, who disclosed the arrest during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 said the suspect, identified as Faruku Muhammed, allegedly lured the girl into his room located within the Islamiyya school premises and defiled her.

The CP paraded Muhammed alongside other suspects arrested for various crimes.

“On 14/06/2026 at about 1630hrs one Faruku Muhammed M aged 36yrs of Tungar Zabarmawa area Jega, LGA, lured one Naja’atu Surajo F aged 10yrs of the same address in to his room located inside an Islamiyya School where he works as a Security Guard and had s3xual intercourse with her by inserting his finger inside her v@gina. Case under investigation and will be prosecuted accordingly,” the CP said.

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Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued four kidnap victims during ongoing operations targeting a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani, and members of his criminal gang in Katsina State.

The Katsina State Government disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu.

The rescued victims were identified as Musa Yakuba, 62; Alhaji Sa’adu Dayi, 68; Mukhtar Danja, 36; and Salisu Danja, 50.

According to the statement, the victims were rescued during sustained military operations in areas where the bandits were believed to be operating.

It added that medical personnel immediately attended to the victims following their rescue, as they had sustained gunshot wounds during their captivity.

The government recalled that the wife of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd) had earlier been rescued in a related operation.

It noted that the four victims were among those previously seen in a photograph alongside the late senior military officer while in captivity.

The state government commended the bravery, professionalism and commitment of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies involved in the operation.

It stated that the security forces’ relentless efforts continued to yield positive results in the fight against banditry and kidnapping across the state.

The government further assured residents that security operatives remained on the trail of Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and other criminal elements responsible for terrorising communities.

It emphasised that ongoing operations would continue until all those responsible for acts of terror against innocent citizens were apprehended and brought to justice.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and pledged continued collaboration with security agencies to ensure that criminal elements have no safe haven anywhere in the state.

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