London, United Kingdom — 2026-01-28 Ex-Oil Minister and Former OPEC Chief on Trial for Bribery. London — The corruption trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former oil minister and the first female president of OPEC, opened in London on Tuesday. Alison-Madueke, 65, is facing multiple counts of bribery that occurred between 2011 and 2015 during her tenure as oil minister under former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.
According to local reports, British prosecutors alleged that Alison — Madueke enjoyed a lavish lifestyle through bribes received from companies seeking oil and gas contracts with Nigeria’s state-owned petroleum corporation.
The charges include accepting tens of thousands of dollars in cash, luxury cars, school fees for her son, and high — end goods from stores like Harrods and Louis Vuitton. Prosecutors also claim she accepted “financial or other advantages “from individuals associated with the Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups.
Nigerian authorities have seized several properties owned by Alison — Madueke, valued at millions of dollars.
Her brother and an oil executive are also charged with bribery offenses. Alison-Madueke, who has been on bail since her first arrest in London in October 2015, denies all the charges.
She had a British address at the time of the alleged crimes.
The trial is significant not only for its high — profile nature but also for its implications on the transparency and governance of the Nigerian oil sector. It may also shed light on the extent of corruption within the Nigerian oil sector during her tenure as oil minister.
The case has been closely followed by both local and international media, with multiple sources confirming the charges against Alison — Madueke and her associates. British prosecutors are presenting a strong case against her, with detailed allegations of corruption. Further details are expected as the trial progresses.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 3*
