The corruption trial of former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke will begin on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London, where she faces six counts, five of accepting bribes and one of conspiracy to commit bribery — linked to contracts awarded while she served from 2010 to 2015.
British investigators say the alleged payments and perks included at least £100,000 in cash, private-jet flights, chauffeur-driven cars, the use and upkeep of London properties, luxury goods from shops such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and school fees for her son.
Prosecutors say those benefits amounted to “financial or other advantages” given in return for favourable treatment.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has been blunt about the case: “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the agency said when charges were authorised.
“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” prosecutors added.
Alison-Madueke has denied the allegations; she has been on bail in the UK since October 2023 and appeared at preliminary hearings this month as jurors were selected.
The substantive trial is expected to run several weeks.
The case forms part of wider international asset-recovery work tied to her tenure as oil minister, including a US repatriation of seized assets linked to the probe.
If convicted on the UK charges, she faces a long custodial sentence under British bribery laws.
Investigations and court proceedings are continuing.
