The corruption trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, opened in a London court Monday, marking a significant moment in international efforts to combat high-level graft in Africa’s largest oil producer.
Alison-Madueke, 65, faces six counts of bribery related to her tenure from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. UK prosecutors allege she accepted lavish gifts and financial benefits from individuals connected to two energy companies in exchange for favorable treatment in awarding multi-million-pound oil contracts.
The indictment details an extensive array of alleged bribes spanning four years, including the use and renovation of London properties, staff costs, luxury furniture, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet flights, £100,000 in cash, school fees for her son, designer goods from Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and additional private aviation services.
“These benefits were not mere gifts but rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” prosecutors contend, arguing that Alison-Madueke improperly performed her ministerial duties in return for personal enrichment.
The former minister, who appeared in court last week for preliminary hearings and jury selection, has denied all charges. She has been on bail in the UK since her October 2015 arrest in London. The trial is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.
Two co-defendants, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing related bribery charges in connection with the case.
The UK’s National Crime Agency formally charged Alison-Madueke in 2023 after a lengthy investigation. The agency also shared evidence with US prosecutors, leading to the recovery of $53.1 million in assets, including luxury properties in California and New York and a 65-meter superyacht called Galactica Star.
Alison-Madueke’s career trajectory was notable for breaking barriers. Born in Port Harcourt in 1960, she studied architecture in Britain and the United States before joining Shell Nigeria. She entered politics in 2007 as Minister of Transport, later serving as Minister of Mines and Steel Development before her 2010 appointment to lead the petroleum ministry, one of Nigeria’s most powerful government positions.
In 2014, she made history as the first woman to lead OPEC, serving approximately one year as president of the oil cartel and cementing her status as one of Africa’s most influential energy figures.
The trial is expected to intensify international scrutiny of corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector and could influence the country’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts. As testimony begins, observers worldwide are watching what many consider one of the most significant prosecutions of a Nigerian official in a foreign court.
