By Favour Bibaikefie

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery charges brought against her by British prosecutors, bringing to a close one of the most high-profile international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official.

A jury sitting at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty on all six counts against the former minister after more than 46 hours of deliberation.

The verdict marks the end of a legal battle that spanned over a decade and attracted significant attention in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015 under former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, faced five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

British prosecutors had alleged that the former minister received luxury benefits, accommodation, travel arrangements and other advantages from individuals connected to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry in exchange for influence over the award of lucrative petroleum contracts.

Throughout the proceedings, Alison-Madueke consistently denied all allegations.

Her legal team argued that she neither possessed sole authority over the award of petroleum contracts nor exercised unilateral control over decisions within Nigeria’s oil sector. The defence maintained that contract approvals involved several layers of government oversight and institutional procedures.

Lawyers further contended that expenditures cited by prosecutors were either official expenses reimbursed by the Nigerian government or personal expenses funded by Alison-Madueke herself.

During the trial, the former minister reportedly told the court that she never accepted bribes and had no direct power to award contracts. She portrayed herself as a strong advocate of due process during her tenure in office.

The trial, which commenced in January 2026, was regarded as one of the United Kingdom’s most significant foreign corruption prosecutions. British authorities, including the National Crime Agency, had investigated allegations against Alison-Madueke for more than ten years before bringing the matter to trial.

The acquittal was not limited to the former minister alone.

Oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who was accused of bribery-related offences connected to the case, was also cleared of all charges. Likewise, Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, who faced allegations linked to conspiracy to commit bribery, was acquitted by the jury.

Following the verdict, reports from London indicated that Alison-Madueke expressed relief at the outcome, describing the decision as the end of an eleven-year ordeal that had separated her from normal family and public life. Her legal representatives stated that she was grateful to the jury and looked forward to rebuilding her life and reputation.

The former minister occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s energy history. She was the first woman to serve as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources and also became the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), representing Nigeria on the global energy stage.

The acquittal is expected to generate renewed debate across Nigeria regarding the long-running corruption allegations that have surrounded her name since leaving office in 2015.

Analysts note that while the London jury’s verdict has brought the UK criminal prosecution to an end, discussions concerning governance, transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s oil industry are likely to continue.

The outcome also raises broader questions about the challenges of prosecuting complex international corruption cases involving political elites and multinational business interests. Several observers in the United Kingdom described the verdict as a significant setback for investigators who had pursued the case for more than a decade.

For now, however, the legal position is clear: after a lengthy investigation, months of courtroom proceedings and extensive public scrutiny, a London jury has found Diezani Alison-Madueke not guilty on all charges brought against her.

The verdict closes a major chapter in one of the most closely watched legal cases involving a former senior Nigerian government official in recent years.

By Favour Bibaikefie

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stepped into the ongoing controversy surrounding the ward and polling unit delineation exercise in Delta State’s Warri Federal Constituency, convening a high-level meeting with leaders of the Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities.

The meeting, which also had Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in attendance, was aimed at addressing concerns arising from the delineation process and charting a path toward a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

The discussions brought together prominent stakeholders from the three ethnic groups, with participants exploring ways to promote understanding, peace, and stability in the affected communities.

Speaking after the meeting, Governor Oborevwori expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for personally engaging in efforts to resolve the matter.

According to the governor, the President’s intervention demonstrated a commitment to ensuring peace and harmony among the various ethnic nationalities within the constituency.

Oborevwori also praised community leaders and stakeholders who supported the outcome of the discussions and embraced the agreed framework for settlement.

He noted that their willingness to prioritize dialogue and mutual understanding reflected a shared commitment to justice, unity, and peaceful coexistence.

The governor urged all parties involved to sustain the spirit of cooperation and continue working together for the collective good of Delta State.

He emphasized the need for residents to strengthen inter-ethnic relationships, maintain peace, and focus on development initiatives that would benefit present and future generations.

Oborevwori further expressed gratitude to God for guiding the reconciliation process and voiced confidence that the outcome of the engagement would foster stronger unity across the state.

The ward and polling unit delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency has remained a subject of intense public interest in recent months, attracting diverse reactions from stakeholders and community groups. Many have consistently advocated dialogue, peaceful engagement, and respect for legal processes as the most effective means of resolving the issues arising from the exercise.

* Restores State Constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa, Kogi Ahead of 2027 Polls

By Favour Bibaikefie

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced the implementation of its final report on the Delineation of Warri Federal Constituency and restored several other State House of Assembly constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi states ahead of the 2027 General Election, in compliance with court judgments directing their reinstatement.

The Commission announced the development in a statement dated June 10, 2026, and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Muhammed Kudu Haruna.

According to INEC, the restoration follows judicial pronouncements and is in line with its constitutional mandate as well as the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The Commission stated that, “Pursuant to the Judgment of the Courts directing the restoration of some suppressed Constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi States, and in line with the powers conferred on the Commission by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026, the Commission has restored the following State Constituencies.”

The restored constituencies include five in Benue State: Nyamatsor, Ukum Afia, Konshisha III (Shangev-Tiev), Makurdi III (South East), and Gboko III.

In Delta State, the restored constituencies are Aniocha North II, Ika North East II, Sapele II, Ethiope West II, Warri South West II, and Warri North II.

Jigawa State has one restored constituency, Aujara State Constituency.

In Kogi State, the Commission restored Adavi East, Eika, Ajaokuta North, Bassa-Komu, Dekina Town & District, Ijumu II, Kabba-Bunu II, Koton Karfe II, Igalaogwa, and Ogugu State Constituencies.

To enable the affected constituencies participate fully in the 2027 electoral process, INEC fixed June 16 to June 25, 2026, for political parties to conduct primaries in the restored constituencies.

The Commission stated: “To facilitate the participation of the restored Constituencies in the 2027 General Election, particularly with respect to the nomination of candidates by Political Parties, the Commission has fixed the 16th – 25th June, 2026 for the conduct of Political Party Primaries in the restored Constituencies.”

INEC further clarified that all previously published timelines and activities contained in the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election remain applicable to the affected constituencies.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all other timelines and activities contained in the already published revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election shall apply to the restored Constituencies,” the statement added.

The electoral body also directed political parties to submit notices of their primaries to the Commission before the scheduled dates.

“In light of the peculiar nature of this arrangement, Political Parties are requested to submit Notices of Political Party Primaries to the Commission prior to the scheduled date for the Primaries,” it stated.

Reaffirming its commitment to democratic principles, INEC assured Nigerians of its determination to conduct credible elections.

“The Commission remains committed to ensuring credible, inclusive and transparent electoral processes,” the statement concluded.

The implementation of the final report on the Delineation of Warri Federal Constotuency lays to rest heightened tentions among the trio of Ijaw, Itseliri, and Urhobos in the last one year as protests and counter-protests continued to trail the every announced report.

The implementation of of Warri Delineation Report and the restoration of other constituencies is expected to enhance representation and ensure compliance with judicial decisions affecting electoral boundaries and legislative representation in the affected states.