Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-OPEC president, Diezani Alison-Madueke, appeared in the Southwark Crown Court on Monday for the preliminary hearing of her long-awaited bribery trial.
The 65-year-old has been on bail in London since her first arrest in October 2015 and is facing six charges of allegedly accepting bribes while in office.
Alison-Madueke, who made history as Nigeria’s first female oil minister and as the first woman to head the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was formally charged by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2023.
The charges relate to the period between 2011 and 2015 and accuse her of receiving at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, and access to multiple London properties.
The indictment also detailed payments for property renovations, furniture, private school fees, and luxury gifts from designer brands.
Monday’s preliminary hearing, presided over by Justice Thornton in Court 8, addressed administrative matters, including jury selection, before the full trial begins on January 26.
The trial is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks. Alison-Madueke attended the session in person, while two co-defendants, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing bribery-related charges.
Agama appeared via video link, while Ayinde was present in court.
The NCA has alleged that Alison-Madueke abused her position as minister to secure multi-million-pound contracts for personal financial gain.
She has denied all charges, maintaining her innocence throughout the proceedings.
This case marks another chapter in Alison-Madueke’s prolonged legal saga, which has involved multiple investigations in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Previous asset recovery efforts by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have reportedly traced $153 million and dozens of properties linked to her time in office.
The trial is being closely watched both in Nigeria and internationally, given Alison-Madueke’s high profile in the oil industry and her historic role at OPEC.
Legal analysts suggested that the outcome could have broader implications for anti-corruption enforcement in Nigeria, as well as for the handling of cross-border financial crimes.
