Diezani Alison-Madueke Appears in London Court Ahead of £100,000 Bribery Trial

Diezani Alison-Madueke Appears in London Court Ahead of £100,000 Bribery Trial

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, appeared in a London court on Monday for preliminary proceedings in her £100,000 bribery case, one of the most high-profile corruption trials involving a former Nigerian government official.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015 and was the first woman to lead OPEC, attended Southwark Crown Court before Justice Thornton as the court prepared for jury selection and other formalities ahead of the full trial, scheduled to begin January 26, 2026.

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The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) alleges that Alison-Madueke accepted £100,000 in cash, luxury vehicles, private jet flights, designer goods, and other benefits in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts while in office. She has denied all charges, and has been on bail since 2015.

Two co-defendants, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing bribery charges linked to the case. Agama appeared via video link, while Ayinde was present in the dock. The trial is expected to last 10–12 weeks.

This latest hearing comes amid continued international scrutiny of Diezani’s assets. In January 2025, Nigeria and the United States secured the repatriation of $52.88 million in assets tied to her, while the EFCC continues to pursue related funds within Nigeria. Legal analysts say the case underscores the increasing cross-border efforts to fight corruption and hold former public officials accountable.

Diezani Alison-Madueke Appears in London Court Ahead of £100,000 Bribery Trial