Diezani Alison-Madueke bribery trial begins to take shape as the former oil minister appears before a London court ahead of January proceedings

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke on Monday appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London for a preliminary hearing in her bribery trial.

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The case was listed before Justice Thornton as preliminary proceedings began ahead of the substantive trial scheduled to commence on January 26.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015, attended court as technical matters and jury selection were initiated this week.

The 65-year-old, Nigeria’s first female oil minister and the first woman to preside over the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015.

She is facing six counts of bribery, all of which she has denied.

The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency formally charged Alison-Madueke in 2023, alleging that she accepted bribes between 2011 and 2015 in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts.

At the time, the NCA said it suspected that she abused her position in Nigeria to receive financial rewards linked to multi-million-pound deals.

According to the indictment, Alison-Madueke allegedly benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet flights, and the use of several London properties.

Prosecutors also listed other alleged benefits, including luxury furniture, property renovations, domestic staff, payment of private school fees, and designer items from high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton.

The trial is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks.

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Two other defendants are also facing bribery charges connected to the case. Doye Agama appeared before the court via video link, while Olatimbo Ayinde was present in person.