Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to multiple bribery charges as her long-running trial opened at Southwark Crown Court in London.
British prosecutors told the court that Alison-Madueke, 65, lived a “life of luxury” allegedly funded by illicit payments received while she served as petroleum minister between 2011 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. The prosecution claimed that individuals seeking lucrative oil and gas contracts with Nigeria’s state-owned oil company offered her significant financial benefits in exchange for influence.
According to the prosecution, those involved in the Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups allegedly provided Alison-Madueke with various inducements after securing contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. Prosecutors argued that she should not have accepted benefits from people doing highly profitable business with government-owned entities.
The court heard that the alleged benefits included £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet flights, refurbishment work on London properties, staff expenses, school fees for her son, and luxury shopping from high-end stores such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton.
Alison-Madueke, who also served as President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from 2014 to 2015, has faced several legal battles across different countries, including cases in the United States. In Nigeria, courts seized properties linked to her and valued at several million dollars in 2017, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) still has pending cases against her.
She was first arrested in London in October 2015 and granted bail. Formal charges were later filed in 2023. Throughout the years, Alison-Madueke has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining her innocence.
At the time of her arrest, the UK National Crime Agency stated that it suspected the former minister had abused her position in Nigeria by accepting financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.
Two other defendants, identified as her brother, Doye Agama, and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also standing trial on related bribery charges. Trial Judge Justine Thornton said the court hopes to conclude proceedings by April 24.