Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has pleaded not guilty to multiple bribery charges at the Southwark Crown Court in London.
According to reports, Alison-Madueke appeared in court on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
She faces allegations of living a “life of luxury” funded by illicit payments while in office.
Prosecutors claim she accepted bribes between 2011 and 2015.
This is during her tenure as Nigeria’s petroleum minister.
She also served as President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from 2014 to 2015.
The court heard that the alleged bribes included £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, refurbishment work, staff costs at London properties, school fees for her son.
Also, luxury items from Harrods and Louis Vuitton.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) still has pending cases against the former minister.
Alison-Madueke has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and was formally charged in 2023, consistently denying all allegations.
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) previously stated that it suspected Alison-Madueke “abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.”
Two others, Doye Agama, her brother, and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing trial on related bribery charges
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The trial judge, Justine Thornton, stated she expects the proceedings to conclude by April 24, 2026.
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