Former Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke appears before UK court; pleads not guilty to bribery allegations (video)

Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has denied multiple bribery charges filed against her at the Southwark Crown Court in London.

Punch reports that Alison-Madueke appeared before the court on Tuesday, January 27, where she is standing trial for living a “life of luxury” funded by illicit payments. 

At the opening of her trial yesterday, the British prosecutors told the court that the former Minister accepted bribes between 2011 and 2015 while in office.  The prosecutors alleged that the Alison-Madueke who also served as president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries from 2014 to 2015, received financial and other inducements from individuals seeking “lucrative oil and gas contracts” with Nigeria’s state-owned oil company, NNPC.

The court heard that the bribery offers she received included £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, refurbishment work and staff costs at London properties, as well as school fees for her son and luxury items from stores such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission still has pending cases against the former minister. She has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and formally charged in 2023. She has consistently denied all allegations.

The UK National Crime Agency said at the time it suspected she had “abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.” Two others, Doye Agama, her brother, and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also standing trial on related bribery charges.

The trial Judge, Justine Thornton said she hoped the trial would be concluded by April 24.

Watch a video of her leaving the court premises below…

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