Diezani Alison-Madueke was arraigned in court today over corruption charges.
Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, was presented before the Southwark Crown Court in London, on Friday where she pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge of bribery and conspiracy to bribe.
The judge has set January 19, 2026 as the trial date which will last 12 weeks. The judge asked the prosecution to serve all their evidence in the case by June 2, 2025.
Thereafter, the judge granted bail to Alison-Madueke on the same terms as before.
The National Crime Agency arraigned, in October 2023, the ex-petroleum minister before the Westminster Magistrates Court for receiving bribes, including flying in private jets and using several luxurious properties in the UK to give lucrative oil contracts.
She was arrested in the UK in 2015 over bribery allegations and has been on bail since then. The charges were read out to her today in court. Alison-Madueke was accused of receiving bribes in cash and kind and giving oil contracts to her benefactors. The former Nigerian petroleum minister allegedly received £100,000 in cash, payment of her son’s tuition fees in a private school in the UK, among other extravagant items and services.
The magistrate, Michael Snow, granted Alison-Madueke bail and limited her movement in the UK, including an 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew.
The use of an electronic tag was also imposed on the former oil minister to monitor the curfew and other conditions of the court.
She was ordered by the court to wear the electronic tag throughout the day.
