Former Nigerian petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to several bribery-related charges as her trial commenced at Southwark Crown Court in London. Prosecutors alleged that she maintained an extravagant lifestyle financed through illegal payments.
The 65-year-old is accused by UK authorities of accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015 while she served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Prosecutors told the court that business figures seeking highly profitable oil and gas contracts with Nigeria’s state-owned oil firm allegedly provided her with substantial financial rewards and other benefits in return for her influence.
According to the prosecution, Alison-Madueke should not have received benefits from individuals engaged in extremely lucrative dealings with government-owned entities.
She is alleged to have obtained inducements from individuals connected to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups, companies that secured contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries. The court was told that the alleged perks included £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet travel, renovation works and staff expenses for London properties, payment of her son’s school fees, and luxury purchases from brands such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton.
Alison-Madueke, who also served as president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) between 2014 and 2015, has faced multiple legal challenges across different jurisdictions, including the United States.
In Nigeria, several properties linked to her and valued at millions of dollars were seized by court orders in 2017, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission still has unresolved cases involving her. She has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and was formally charged in 2023, consistently denying all accusations.
The UK National Crime Agency previously stated that it suspected she had abused her official position and received financial rewards in exchange for approving multi-million-pound contracts. Her brother, Doye Agama, and Olatimbo Ayinde are also standing trial on related bribery allegations.
Presiding judge, Justice Justine Thornton, said she expects the trial to be concluded by April 24.
