The high-profile corruption trial of Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, resumed at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, February 5, 2026, with jurors hearing fresh testimony about millions of pounds allegedly spent on luxury property refurbishments.
The 65-year-old former minister is accused of multiple counts of bribery stemming from a years-long investigation by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA). The alleged offences occurred between 2011 and 2015 during her tenure as Nigeria’s oil minister, while she maintained a UK address.
Prosecutors allege Alison-Madueke accepted “financial or other advantages” from individuals linked to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups, companies that secured lucrative contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or its subsidiaries.
Specific Allegations Include:
Receiving £100,000 in cash.
Use of chauffeur-driven cars and private jet flights to Nigeria.
Payment for refurbishment work and staff costs at several high-end London properties.
School fees for her son.
Luxury goods from Harrods and Louis Vuitton.
Additional private jet flights.
Two co-defendants her brother Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde are also facing bribery charges in connection with the case.
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Alison-Madueke, who served as OPEC President between 2014 and 2015, has been on bail in Britain since her arrest in October 2015. She was formally charged with bribery in 2023 and has consistently denied all allegations.
The trial is ongoing, with further hearings scheduled in the coming weeks.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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