Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-OPEC president, Diezani Alison-Madueke, appeared in a London court on Monday as preliminary proceedings began ahead of her full trial on bribery charges.
The proceedings, which include technical matters and jury selection, commenced this week with Alison-Madueke present in court. Her full trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 26, and is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015, made history as the country’s first female petroleum minister and the first woman to serve as president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The 65-year-old has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015. She has pleaded not guilty to six counts of bribery.
In 2023, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) formally charged Alison-Madueke with accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015, during her time in office.
“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the NCA said at the time.
According to the indictment, the former minister allegedly benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet flights and the use of several properties in London.
Prosecutors further alleged that the financial rewards included luxury furniture, renovation works and domestic staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and high-end gifts from designer brands such as Louis Vuitton.
Two other individuals are also facing bribery charges in connection with the case. Doye Agama appeared at Monday’s hearing via video link, while Olatimbo Ayinde was present in the dock.
The case is one of the most high-profile corruption trials involving a former senior Nigerian government official to be heard in the United Kingdom.
