“Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke Appears in London Court for Bribery Trial”
Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources and the inaugural female president of OPEC, has made a court appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London. The charges against her relate to alleged bribery offenses.
On August 22, the United Kingdom (UK) government formally charged Alison-Madueke with accepting a substantial £100,000 bribe. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) asserts that she accepted these bribes in return for granting lucrative oil and gas contracts.
Sources indicate that Nigerian authorities have already successfully recovered approximately $21 million from the accused. Additionally, both Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the United States Department of Justice have taken possession of assets valued at up to $100 million, which are believed to have been acquired using illicit gains from corruption.
This ongoing legal battle is poised to shed further light on alleged corrupt practices within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, a controversy spanning a five-year period.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is currently 63 years old, has been on bail since her initial arrest in London back in 2014. She has consistently denied the corruption allegations leveled against her.