Corruption Trial Of Ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani Commences In London

The corruption trial of Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is set to commence in London on Monday.

Alison-Madueke, 65, is standing trial on five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, offences she allegedly committed while serving as Nigeria’s oil minister between 2010 and 2015.

According to prosecutors, the former minister allegedly accepted “financial or other advantages” from individuals connected to two energy companies between 2011 and 2015 in exchange for improperly performing her official duties.

The alleged benefits include the refurbishment of several luxury properties in London, payment of staff costs at those properties, expensive furniture, chauffeur-driven vehicles, a private jet flight to Nigeria and £100,000 (about $137,000) in cash.

Court documents further allege that Alison-Madueke also received bribes in the form of school fees paid for her son, luxury goods purchased from high-end stores such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton, as well as additional private jet flights.

The indictment stated that the acceptance of these benefits amounted to “improper performance” of her responsibilities as Nigeria’s Minister for Petroleum Resources.

The former minister appeared in a London court last week for preliminary hearings, which covered technical legal matters and the selection of jurors ahead of the commencement of the trial.

She did not enter a plea during the preliminary proceedings. The trial, which will be heard before a UK court, is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks.

Alison-Madueke has consistently denied wrongdoing in previous cases related to corruption allegations, while Nigerian and international anti-corruption agencies have pursued multiple investigations connected to her tenure in office.