Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court on Monday for preliminary proceedings ahead of her full trial on bribery charges.
The 65-year-old, who served as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 and was OPEC’s first female president, faces six counts of accepting bribes totaling at least £100,000 in cash, luxury gifts, private jet flights, and London property benefits during her tenure.
She has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and denies all charges.
The UK’s National Crime Agency, which brought the charges in 2023, alleges Alison-Madueke “abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.”
Two other individuals—Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde—are also being prosecuted in connection with the case.
The main trial is scheduled to begin on January 26 and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.
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Disclaimer:
This report is based on court proceedings and official charges. All accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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