Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday for the preliminary hearing in her upcoming trial on bribery charges.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s first female oil minister from 2010 to 2015 and was the first female president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), attended the session before Justice Thornton. The preliminary proceedings addressed technical matters and jury selection in preparation for the full trial scheduled to begin on January 26, 2026, which is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.
The 65-year-old has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and has denied six charges brought against her. She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) with offences related to accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015.
The indictment alleges that Alison-Madueke benefited from at least £100,000 ($134,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, and use of multiple London properties. Additional alleged benefits include furniture, renovation work, staff for the properties, private school fees, and luxury gifts from designer brands such as Louis Vuitton.
Two others are also being prosecuted in connection with the case: Doye Agama, who appeared via video link, and Olatimbo Ayinde, present in the dock during the preliminary hearing.
The NCA previously stated, “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” underscoring the seriousness of the allegations.
