A former Nigerian oil minister and the first female president of OPEC used her position to solicit bribes in exchange for lucrative government contracts, a London court has heard.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday for the opening of her trial. Prosecutors allege she accepted a wide array of “financial and other advantages” while serving as Nigeria’s Minister for Petroleum Resources between 2011 and 2015.
The court was told that Mrs. Alison-Madueke abused her power to fund a “life of luxury” in London, allegedly receiving cash, private jet flights, and designer goods from businessmen seeking oil deals.
‘Lucrative business’
As petroleum minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs Alison-Madueke oversaw the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the state-owned giant that manages the country’s vast oil and gas wealth.
Prosecutors told the jury that individuals linked to two firms—Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical—provided the minister with significant rewards to secure contracts.
“She should not have accepted benefits from those who were doing, no doubt extremely lucrative, business in oil and gas with government-owned entities,” the prosecution said.
The ‘shopping list’ of bribes
The indictment against the former minister includes a series of specific allegations regarding her lifestyle in the UK. According to the prosecution, the “bribes” included:
- Cash: At least £100,000 ($137,000) in physical currency.
- Luxury shopping: High-end products from Harrods and Louis Vuitton.
- Property: Extensive refurbishment work, interior design, and staffing costs for several London homes.
- Education: Private school fees for her son.
- Travel: Use of a private jet for a flight to Nigeria and access to chauffeur-driven cars.
Mrs Alison-Madueke, who has been on bail since her arrest in London in 2015, denies all charges.
Global legal battle
The trial is the culmination of a decade-long international investigation led by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
At the time she was charged in 2023, the NCA stated they suspected she had “abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.”
Her legal troubles extend far beyond London. In 2017, courts in Nigeria seized properties belonging to her valued at several million dollars. The country’s anti-corruption body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), confirmed on Tuesday that it still has “subsisting cases” against her in her home country.
Two other defendants—the former minister’s brother, Doye Agama, and Olatimbo Ayinde—are also facing prosecution for their alleged roles in the bribery scheme. All three defendants held British addresses at the time of the alleged offences.
Why it matters
The trial is being closely watched in Nigeria, a country where oil accounts for the bulk of government revenue but where corruption has historically drained billions from the public purse. Mrs Alison-Madueke was one of the most powerful figures in African politics during her tenure, eventually becoming the first woman to lead the global oil cartel, Opec.
Judge Justine Thornton told the court she expects the trial to conclude by late April.
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