Former Nigerian petroleum minister and ex-OPEC president, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday appeared before a London court as her long-awaited corruption trial formally began.

Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, commenced this week, with Alison-Madueke present in court ahead of the full trial. The 65-year-old, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister between 2010 and 2015, is facing six counts of bribery linked to her tenure in office. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s first female petroleum minister and the first woman to serve as president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was first arrested in London in October 2015 and has remained on bail since then.

In 2023, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) formally charged her with accepting bribes between 2011 and 2015.

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the NCA said at the time.

According to prosecutors, Alison-Madueke allegedly benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights and the use of multiple London properties.

The indictment also listed other alleged benefits, including luxury furniture, renovation work, household staff, payment of private school fees and designer gifts from brands such as Louis Vuitton.

The trial is scheduled to run for between 10 and 12 weeks.

Two other defendants — Doye Agama, who appeared via video link, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in court — are also standing trial on bribery charges connected to the case.

Source; PM News