The trial of former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and two others has begun at Southwark Crown Court in London over allegations of corruption.
British prosecutors told the court that Alison-Madueke received bribes from figures in the oil industry. They allege the bribes included luxury items and access to expensive properties, given in return for the award of lucrative oil and gas contracts.
Alison-Madueke was charged in 2023 with five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
She served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan and also briefly led the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), becoming the first woman to hold either position.
Now 65, Alison-Madueke is one of the most high-profile former energy officials to face trial over alleged corruption.
