Diezani, Nigeria former Petroleum Minister’s, corruption trials resumes in UK court
Former Nigerian oil minister and ex-president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday appeared before a London court as preliminary proceedings began ahead of her corruption trial.
Alison-Madueke attended Southwark Crown Court where technical hearings and jury selection commenced in preparation for the full trial, which is scheduled to begin on January 26 and is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks.
The 65-year-old, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015, made history as the country’s first female oil minister and the first woman to lead OPEC. She has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015.
In 2023, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) formally charged her with six counts of bribery, alleging that she accepted illicit payments between 2011 and 2015 while in office. Alison-Madueke has denied all the charges.
According to prosecutors, she is accused of abusing her position to receive financial rewards in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts. The alleged benefits include at least £100,000 in cash, the use of chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights and access to several London properties.
The indictment also lists other alleged rewards such as furniture, renovation works and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees and luxury items from high-end designer brands.
Two other defendants, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing bribery charges linked to the case. Agama appeared in court via video link, while Ayinde was present in person.
The trial is expected to be one of the most closely watched corruption cases involving a former senior Nigerian government official to be heard in the United Kingdom.
