Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London for the preliminary hearing of her bribery trial.
Alison-Madueke, who served from 2010 to 2015 and was the first female president of OPEC, faces six charges of bribery brought by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). She has denied all allegations.
The 65-year-old, who has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015, was formally charged in 2023 with accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015. The NCA alleges she abused her position in Nigeria to award multi-million-pound contracts in exchange for financial rewards.
According to the indictment, she received benefits worth at least £100,000, including cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, and access to London properties. Other perks listed include luxury furniture, renovations, staff for the properties, private school fees, and designer gifts from brands such as Louis Vuitton.
The trial is scheduled to begin on January 26, 2026, and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks. Two others linked to the case, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing bribery charges, with Agama appearing via video link and Ayinde present in court.
