Bangladesh, June 20 -- Former Nigerian Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been acquitted of all bribery charges by a London court, bringing a dramatic end to one of the United Kingdom's longest-running anti-corruption investigations involving a high-profile African political figure. The verdict, delivered by a jury at Southwark Crown Court after a five-month trial, marks the conclusion of a 13-year inquiry conducted by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) into allegations that the former minister exchanged lucrative government contracts for personal benefits and luxury accommodations.

Alison-Madueke, 65, who served as Nigeria's petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan's admini...