Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-OPEC president, Diezani Alison-Madueke, appeared in a London court on Monday ahead of her upcoming corruption trial over alleged bribery offences linked to her time in office.
According to reports, preliminary proceedings including technical hearings and jury selection began this week, with Alison-Madueke in attendance.
Alison-Madueke served as Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015, becoming the first woman to hold the role and the first female president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Now 65, she has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and has denied all six charges filed against her.
She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which accused her of accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015.
The NCA said it believes Alison-Madueke abused her position by taking financial benefits in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.
Court documents reportedly claim she received at least £100,000 in cash, along with luxury perks such as chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, and access to multiple properties in London.
Other alleged benefits include furniture, renovation work and household staff for the properties, private school fees, and designer gifts from high-end brands including Louis Vuitton.
Her trial is set to begin on Monday, January 26, and is expected to run for 10 to 12 weeks.
Two other suspects are also facing prosecution in connection with the case — Doye Agama, who appeared via video link, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in court.