Former Nigerian Oil Minister's High-Profile Corruption Trial Opens in London Court
The long-awaited corruption trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's former minister of petroleum resources and a historic figure as the first woman to preside over the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has officially commenced at a London court. The proceedings, which began on Monday, January 26, mark a significant development in a case that has drawn international attention to allegations of graft within Nigeria's lucrative oil sector.
Serious Bribery and Conspiracy Charges Detailed
Alison-Madueke, aged 65, is confronting a total of six charges, comprising five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. These allegations are directly tied to her period as Nigeria's oil minister between 2010 and 2015, during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Prosecutors assert that she improperly received financial and other advantages from individuals associated with two energy companies from 2011 to 2015.
The extensive list of alleged benefits includes:
- The use of multiple high-end London properties
- Comprehensive refurbishment work and staff costs for those properties
- Expensive furniture and chauffeur-driven vehicles
- A private jet flight to Nigeria
- Approximately £100,000 (equivalent to $137,000) in cash payments
Additional Luxury Perks and International Investigations
Further charges reveal that Alison-Madueke allegedly accepted additional bribes, which encompassed the payment of her son's school fees, luxury goods from prestigious retailers like Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and more private jet flights. According to the indictment, accepting these benefits constituted the improper performance of her ministerial duties, undermining her official responsibilities.
The trial follows preliminary proceedings last week, where Alison-Madueke appeared in court for technical matters and jury selection. The legal process is anticipated to span between 10 and 12 weeks. Two other defendants, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing prosecution on related bribery charges connected to this case.
Background and Denials from the Former Minister
Alison-Madueke has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and has consistently denied all allegations against her. In 2023, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) formally charged her with offences related to bribery acceptance. An NCA statement at the time declared, "We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts."
Earlier in 2023, the NCA disclosed that it had provided evidence to US prosecutors, leading to the recovery of assets worth $53.1 million linked to Alison-Madueke's alleged corruption. These assets, as reported by the US Department of Justice, included luxury properties in California and New York, along with a 65-metre superyacht named the Galactica Star.
From Architecture Student to OPEC President
Born in 1960 into an affluent family in Port Harcourt, a major oil-producing city in southern Nigeria, Alison-Madueke pursued architecture studies in the United Kingdom and the United States. She began her professional career with the Nigerian subsidiary of the global oil giant Shell before transitioning into politics.
Her political journey included serving as minister of transport in 2007 under the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, followed by a role as minister of mines and steel development. After President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office following Yar'Adua's death, he appointed her as minister of petroleum resources in April 2010. In a groundbreaking achievement, she became OPEC's first female president in 2014, holding the position for approximately one year.
