Ex-Petroleum minister Dieziani Alison-Madueke appear in UK court ahead of corruption trial

Former OPEC president and former Nigerian Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court on Monday, ahead of her full trial on bribery charges relating to her time as Nigeria’s oil minister.

Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, began this week, with Alison-Madueke in attendance, AFP reported. 

Alison-Madueke, who was in office from 2010 to 2015, was the first woman oil minister in Nigeria and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC. 

The 65-year-old has been on bail since she was first arrested in London in October 2015. She has denied six charges against her. 

She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency with offences of accepting bribes between 2011 to 2015. 

“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, Alison-Madueke benefitted from at least £100,000 ($134,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets and the use of multiple London properties. 

The charges also detailed financial rewards including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees and gifts from top designer shops such as Louis Vuitton. 

The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 26 and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks. 

Two others are also being prosecuted on bribery charges linked to the case: Doye Agama, who appeared in court via video link on Monday, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in the dock.