By Becky Usman

Grace Taiga, the former director of legal services at the Nigerian Ministry of Petroleum Resources who faced allegations of accepting bribes from P&ID, has reportedly passed away. Multiple sources confirmed that Taiga, who had been battling kidney issues, passed away in September 2023. Her family did not publicly announce her death. She is expected to be buried in December in Delta state. Taiga had served in the ministries of petroleum resources and defense before retiring in September 2010. She was arrested and charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving payments from P&ID to manipulate the controversial gas supply and processing agreement (GSPA) against Nigeria. The London Court of International Arbitration had awarded $6.6 billion plus seven percent interest against Nigeria in January 2017 for breach of contract. The EFCC alleged that Taiga received illegal payments from Marshpearl Limited, a company controlled by P&ID’s owners, through her daughter. She was also accused of failing to follow due process in providing legal advice on the GSPA. In September 2019, she was remanded in Suleja prison after pleading not guilty to an eight-count charge of fraud. She was later granted a N10 million bail.