Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, appeared at Southwark Crown Court today for the preliminary hearing of her high-profile corruption trial, fqcing six bribery charges, which she denies.
Alison-Madueke, who served from 2010 to 2015, is accused by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) of accepting bribes worth at least £100,000 between 2011 and 2015, allegedly in exchange for awarding lucrative oil contracts.
“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 in 2023.
According to the indictment, the alleged rewards extended beyond cash to include chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, and the use of luxury London properties. The charges also detail benefits such as property renovations, staff payments, private school fees, and designer gifts from stores including Louis Vuitton.
The preliminary proceedings, held before Justice Thornton, covered technical matters and jury selection. Alison-Madueke, who has been on bail since her initial arrest in London in October 2015, attended the hearing.
Two co-defendants, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also being prosecuted on linked bribery charges. Agama appeared via video link, while Ayinde was present in the dock.
The full trial is scheduled to commence on Monday, January, 2026, and is expected to last between 10 to 12 weeks, marking a significant milestone in a case that has unfolded over a decade.
