Former Nigerian petroleum minister and ex-OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke made a high-profile appearance at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday as preliminary hearings begin in her long-awaited bribery trial.
The 65-year-old, who served from 2010 to 2015 and has been on bail since her first arrest in London in 2015, appeared before Justice Thornton ahead of her full trial set to start on January 26, 2026.
Alison-Madueke has denied all six charges brought against her by the UK’s National Crime Agency, which alleges she accepted at least £100,000 in cash and lavish benefits — including chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, and luxury property perks — in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts.
Prosecutors say the indictment also lists designer gifts, furniture, property renovations, school fees, and other financial rewards among the alleged bribes.
The trial — expected to last 10–12 weeks — will also see co-defendants Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde face related bribery charges.
