Former OPEC President Diezani Alison-Madueke Appears In UK Court Over Major Corruption Charges
Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Diezani Alison-Madueke, appeared before a London court on Monday as preliminary proceedings commenced in her long-awaited corruption trial in the United Kingdom.
The court appearance marks the formal start of legal proceedings ahead of a full trial on bribery charges linked to her tenure as Nigeria’s oil minister between 2010 and 2015. The opening phase of the case includes technical hearings and jury selection, with Alison-Madueke physically present in court.
Alison-Madueke, 65, made history as Nigeria’s first female petroleum minister and later became the first woman to preside over OPEC, one of the world’s most influential oil organisations. However, her tenure has remained clouded by allegations of large-scale corruption and abuse of office.
She has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and formally charged in 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). The former minister has pleaded not guilty to six counts of bribery.
According to UK prosecutors, Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015 in exchange for awarding lucrative, multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.
The NCA alleged that she “abused her position of power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for improperly awarding contracts.”
Court documents detail that Alison-Madueke allegedly received at least £100,000 in cash, luxury chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet flights, and access to multiple high-end properties in London. Prosecutors also claim the benefits extended to expensive furniture purchases, property renovations, domestic staff, private school fees, and luxury goods from designer brands including Louis Vuitton.
The trial is scheduled to formally begin on Monday, January 26, and is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks, making it one of the most high-profile international corruption trials involving a former Nigerian public official.
Two other individuals are standing trial in connection with the alleged bribery scheme. Doye Agama appeared in court via video link, while Olatimbo Ayinde was physically present in the dock. Both face charges related to the same corruption allegations.
The case is being closely watched in Nigeria and internationally, as it represents a significant test of global anti-corruption enforcement and accountability for politically exposed persons.