Buhari’s Ex-Minister Fingered In Diezani’s UK ‘Bribery’ Case

The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources during the first tenure of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibe Kachikwu, has been mentioned in the criminal charges levelled against Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Naija News reports that Alison-Madueke, who was Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015, is charged with receiving bribes in the form of cash, luxury goods, flights on private jets, and the use of high-end properties in Britain in return for awarding oil contracts.

According to The Cable, the court process mentioned Kachikwu alongside Benedict Peters, Aiteo’s chief executive officer (CEO), and Haruna Momoh, a former managing director of pipelines and product marketing company (PPMC).

Other Nigerians mentioned in the court process are Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde and Doye Agama.

According to the court process, Kachikwu was bribed in August 2015 “with the intention of influencing his capacity as a foreign public official.”

The court document added that the act was contrary to sections 6 and 11 of the Bribery Act 2010.

Recall that a Westminster Magistrates Court in the United Kingdom had granted former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke a £70,000 bail.

Naija News reported that Alison-Madueke was arraigned before district judge Michael Snow over an alleged £100,000 bribe.

Snow, in his ruling, further imposed other terms on Alison-Madueke, including an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, an electronic tag to be worn by her at all times, and a £70,000 surety to be paid before she could leave the court building.

During her appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court, she provided her name, date of birth, and address.

Although she did not formally enter a plea, her attorney, Mark Bowen, informed the court that she would plead not guilty, according to Reuters.