From Power to Prosecution: Ex-Minister Faces Corruption Trial in UK

A significant corruption trial involving former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is scheduled to commence in London this week, according to POLITICS NIGERIA.

This case brings one of Nigeria’s most recognized former public officials to a British court, where she faces allegations of extensive bribery linked to her time in office.

Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, is charged with multiple criminal offenses related to her role as Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015.

She was the first female president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during this period. Prosecutors assert that she received illicit benefits from individuals affiliated with two major energy companies.

The charges include five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Court documents state that the alleged benefits included “financial or other advantages” provided over several years.

These are said to cover luxury accommodation in London, payment for renovation works, household staff expenses, expensive furniture, and chauffeur-driven vehicles.

Investigators also listed private jet flights, including trips to Nigeria, and a cash payment of £100,000.

Further accusations claim that she received payments for her son’s school fees.
Other items allegedly given to her include products from high-end stores such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton.
Additional private jet flights are also part of the case.

Prosecutors argue that accepting these benefits amounted to “improper performance” of her duties as Nigeria’s oil minister.

They say the actions influenced the award of major oil and gas contracts worth millions of pounds.

Alison-Madueke appeared in court last week for preliminary hearings.

These proceedings focused on technical legal matters and jury selection.

The full trial is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks.

Two other defendants, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing bribery-related charges connected to the same investigation.

The former minister has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015.
She has consistently denied all allegations brought against her.

In 2023, British authorities formally filed criminal charges against her after years of investigation.
At the time, the National Crime Agency said: “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.”

The case has also drawn attention from authorities in the United States.
Earlier investigations helped US prosecutors recover assets valued at more than $53 million.
These assets reportedly included luxury properties in California and New York and a large superyacht known as the Galactica Star.

Alison-Madueke began her career as an architect after studying in the United Kingdom and the United States.
She later joined Shell’s Nigerian operations before entering politics.

Her political career saw her serve as Minister of Transport, then Minister of Mines and Steel Development, before becoming Petroleum Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Her appointment as OPEC president in 2014 marked a historic milestone for Nigeria and for women in the global oil industry.

However, that achievement has since been overshadowed by years of legal battles and corruption allegations.

The London trial is expected to attract strong international attention due to the scale of the claims and her former influence in Nigeria’s oil sector.