Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been accused of receiving bribes in the form of luxury goods and access to high-end properties from industry figures, allegations presented by British prosecutors at her corruption trial on Tuesday.
Alison-Madueke appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on the opening day of proceedings, where she faces multiple bribery-related charges linked to her time in office between 2011 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Prosecutors told the court that individuals seeking “lucrative oil and gas contracts” with Nigeria’s state-owned petroleum corporation provided Alison-Madueke with “significant financial or other advantages,” conduct they argue violated the standards expected of a serving cabinet minister.
According to the prosecution, the alleged benefits were provided by individuals connected to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical; companies that secured contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or its subsidiaries during her tenure.
The former minister is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama. All three defendants face five counts related to alleged bribery and have pleaded not guilty.
Alison-Madueke is among the most prominent former energy officials to face corruption charges abroad. She was formally charged in 2023 with five counts of accepting bribes, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit bribery; allegations she has consistently denied.
Safiya Muhammed Bello
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