Nigerian ex-minister’s bribery trial acquittal holds lessons for UK prosecutors
By Martin Coyle ( June 18, 2026, 13:44 GMT | Comment) -- Wednesday's acquittal of former Nigerian oil minister and OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke over accusations that she took bribes for oil contracts meant a dark day for prosecutors at the UK's National Crime Agency. But it was a reminder of how hard it can be to secure convictions in trials of senior politicians, and it may also strengthen support for UK proposals for jury-less trials in complex white-collar crime cases.The acquittal of a former Nigerian oil minister — in a "milestone" corruption prosecution that was the fruit of more than a decade's investigation — leaves egg on the face of the UK's National Crime Agency. ...
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