The corruption and bribery trial of former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke resumed on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London.
The proceedings, which had been ongoing since late January 2026, continued following earlier sessions where prosecutors outlined allegations against the ex-minister.
Alison-Madueke, who served from 2010 to 2015 and was the first female president of OPEC, faces five counts of accepting bribes and one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecutors have accused her of accepting lavish benefits from oil and gas industry figures in exchange for influencing the award of lucrative Nigerian government contracts. These alleged benefits reportedly included a luxurious lifestyle in the UK, such as the use of multimillion-pound properties, a chauffeur-driven car, private jet travel, high-end shopping sprees (including over £2 million at Harrods), cash payments, and other gifts.
Her defense team has countered that she lacked real decision-making power in contract awards, describing her role as merely a "rubber stamp" for official recommendations, and denying that she requested or received any bribes.The trial, involving co-defendants including businessman Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother Doye Agama (also facing bribery-related charges), is expected to run through April 2026.
It represents a major international effort against corruption, stemming from a long-running investigation by the UK's National Crime Agency in collaboration with Nigerian authorities.
Recent court days have featured details of the alleged luxury spending and lifestyle perks tied to the bribery claims.
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