A London court has begun the long-awaited corruption trial of former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke. The 65-year-old, who also served as president of OPEC from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, faces six counts of bribery linked to her time in office. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The trial’s opening proceedings this week include technical matters and jury selection, marking the first courtroom steps in a case spanning nearly a decade. Alison-Madueke was present in court last week ahead of the full trial, which is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks and involve extensive evidence, including financial records and property transactions.
Prosecutors allege she received cash, luxury vehicles, private jet travel, high-end London properties, household staff, and designer items, including Louis Vuitton gifts, in exchange for influencing oil contracts. Two co-defendants, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing bribery charges in connection with the case.
