The eyes of the international legal community are on London this week as the long-anticipated corruption trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former oil minister, is set to kick off.
Once hailed as a trailblazer—the first woman to serve as OPEC president—Alison-Madueke now faces serious allegations tied to her years in office.
Charges Rooted in Her Time as Oil Minister
Alison-Madueke, 65, is accused of accepting bribes and conspiring to commit bribery during her tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan.
The indictment lists five counts of taking bribes and one count of conspiracy, all allegedly connected to contracts and dealings with two energy companies between 2011 and 2015.
Prosecutors claim she received a range of “financial and other advantages,” including luxury London properties, refurbishment work, staff costs, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, and even £100,000 in cash.
Allegations Include Lavish Personal Perks
The case also details other perks she allegedly enjoyed, such as school fees for her son, designer goods from stores like Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and additional private jet flights.
According to the indictment, these gifts represented “improper performance” of her ministerial duties.
Last week, Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court for preliminary matters, including jury selection and technical proceedings.
The trial itself is expected to run for 10 to 12 weeks.
Co-Defendants Face Bribery Charges Too
She is not alone in facing the courts. Two associates, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also being prosecuted in connection with the bribery allegations.
Alison-Madueke has been on bail since her arrest in London back in October 2015 and continues to deny all charges.
International Investigations Uncover Vast Assets
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which focuses on serious and organised crime, formally charged Alison-Madueke in 2023.
At the time, they stated: “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.”
Evidence shared with US prosecutors led to the recovery of $53.1 million in assets allegedly tied to her corruption, including luxury real estate in California and New York, as well as a 65-metre superyacht, the Galactica Star.
From Port Harcourt to OPEC Leadership
Alison-Madueke was born in 1960 into a wealthy family in Nigeria’s oil hub, Port Harcourt.
She studied architecture in Britain and the US before joining Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary.
Her political career saw her rise quickly: she became transport minister in 2007 under President Umaru Yar’Adua, later served as minister of mines and steel development, and finally took over as minister of petroleum resources in April 2010 when Jonathan assumed the presidency.
In 2014, she made history as the first female president of OPEC, holding the position for about a year.
Her current trial marks a dramatic turn from her once-celebrated career on the global oil stage.
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