Corruption: Diezani Alison Madueke Could be Jailed For 10 Years If Found Guilty

Nigeria's ex Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, faces 10 years in a British jail if she is convicted for alleged bribery, Today.ng reports.

She and four others were arrested by officials of the International Corruption Unit of the UK National Crime Agency in London on Friday and detained before being granted bail.

The five suspects, whom detectives said are between 21 and 60, were arrested over their alleged roles in transactions involving British companies and Nigerian government officials and their business associates.

In a statement during the weekend, the ICU said it will “trace and recover the proceeds of international corruption; support foreign law enforcement agencies with international anti-corruption investigations; engage with government and business to reduce the UK’s exposure to the proceeds of corruption; and work with business to support increased compliance with the Bribery Act 2010.”

The Bribery Act specifies that “(1) An individual guilty of an offence under sections 1, 2 or 6 is liable — (a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or to a fine, or to both. (2) Any other person guilty of an offence under section 1, 2 or 6 is liable — (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.”