Ex-Minister Alison-Madueke Denies Bribery Charges in UK Trial

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday pleaded not guilty to bribery charges as her long-anticipated corruption trial opened at a court in the United Kingdom.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister between 2010 and 2015 and later became president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is accused by UK prosecutors of accepting lavish gifts and financial benefits from businessmen in exchange for using her position to influence oil and gas contracts.

Prosecutors allege that the former minister received luxury properties, large sums of cash, expensive shopping sprees, private jet flights and other benefits during her time in office. The prosecution claims these inducements were offered to secure favourable treatment in Nigeria’s lucrative petroleum sector.

Appearing before the court, Alison-Madueke firmly denied all allegations, entering a plea of not guilty to the charges of bribery and conspiracy. Her legal team argues that she did not abuse her office and that the prosecution’s case is based on assumptions rather than direct evidence of corrupt decisions.

The trial also involves other defendants accused of acting as intermediaries in the alleged bribery scheme. All co-defendants have similarly denied the charges.

The case is being closely watched in Nigeria and abroad, given Alison-Madueke’s former prominence in global oil politics and the long-running corruption investigations linked to her tenure as minister. UK authorities say the case falls within their jurisdiction because many of the alleged benefits were received or enjoyed in Britain.

The trial is expected to continue for several weeks, during which the court will hear evidence from prosecutors and the defence before reaching a verdict.