Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources and former President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Diezani Alison-Madueke, is set to appear in a London court on Monday as the long-awaited corruption trial officially begins.
The trial’s opening phase will start this week with preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, marking the first courtroom step in a case that has spanned nearly a decade.
Alison-Madueke, 65, was physically present in court last week as the process began, ahead of the full trial expected to hear extensive evidence.
She served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. She is facing six counts of bribery connected to her time in office and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Alison-Madueke holds a unique place in Nigeria’s political history as the first female petroleum minister and the first woman to serve as president of OPEC. However, her tenure has been overshadowed by multiple corruption allegations both in Nigeria and abroad since she left office in 2015.
She was first arrested by British authorities in London in October 2015 as part of a major corruption investigation. She has since remained on bail while investigations continued.
In 2023, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) formally charged Alison-Madueke, accusing her of accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015, a period when she wielded significant influence over Nigeria’s oil sector—one of Africa’s most lucrative industries.
The NCA alleged that she abused her power to award multi-million-pound contracts in exchange for financial rewards.
Prosecutors claim that Alison-Madueke benefited from at least £100,000 in cash, along with luxury perks provided by individuals seeking favourable treatment. These alleged benefits include:
- Chauffeur-driven vehicles
- Private jet flights
- Use of high-end properties in London
- Luxury furniture and renovation funding
- Household staff services
- Payment of private school fees
- Expensive designer items, including Louis Vuitton gifts
The prosecution is expected to argue that these benefits were bribes given to influence oil contracts and strategic decisions within Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
The trial is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks, during which witnesses will testify and financial records, property transactions, and other evidence will be examined.
Two other defendants are also on trial alongside Alison-Madueke:
- Doye Agama, who appeared via video link
- Olatimbo Ayinde, who was physically present in court
Both are facing bribery charges connected to the same case.