UK Court Opens Corruption Trial of Nigeria’s Ex-Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke

The long-awaited corruption trial of former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke opened Monday in a London court, marking a significant step in a case that has unfolded over nearly a decade.

Alison-Madueke, 65, served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 and was the first woman to preside over OPEC. She faces six counts of bribery related to her time in office and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The trial began with preliminary proceedings, including jury selection. The former minister was present in court last week as the process got underway.

According to the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which brought the charges in 2023, Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015 in exchange for awarding lucrative oil contracts. Prosecutors allege she received at least £100,000 in cash, along with luxury benefits including private jet flights, chauffeur-driven cars, high-end London properties, designer goods, furniture, private school fees, and household staff.

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the NCA stated when charges were filed.

The trial is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks, during which the court will hear witness testimonies and review financial and property records.

Two other individuals, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also standing trial on related bribery charges.

Alison-Madueke was initially arrested in London in October 2015 and has remained on bail during the investigation. Her case has drawn international attention due to her high-profile role in one of Africa’s largest oil-producing nations.