Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London for a preliminary hearing in her ongoing bribery trial.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister between 2010 and 2015, was the country’s first female petroleum minister and the first woman to lead the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The case came up on Monday before Justice Thornton, marking the start of pre-trial proceedings ahead of the full trial scheduled to begin on January 26.
Court proceedings this week are expected to focus on technical matters, including jury selection and case management, with Alison-Madueke attending in person.
The 65-year-old has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and has pleaded not guilty to all six counts filed against her.
In 2023, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) formally charged Alison-Madueke with accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015 while in office.
“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her position in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the NCA said at the time.
According to prosecutors, the alleged benefits included at least £100,000 in cash, luxury vehicles with drivers, private jet flights, and the use of several London properties.
The indictment also lists other alleged inducements such as home furnishings, renovation work, domestic staff, payment of private school fees, and designer items from high-end brands.
The trial, expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks, also involves two other defendants, Doye Agama, who appeared via video link, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in court.
