Southwark Crown Court in the UK has adjourned the trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, to November 2025.
Gatekeepers News reports that Alison-Madueke has been facing charges related to an alleged £100,000 bribe. By her next trial date, she will have spent a decade in the UK.
In October 2, 2023, Michael Snow, the district judge at the Westminster Magistrates Court, granted Alison-Madueke bail in the sum of £70,000, acknowledging her as a potential flight risk.
This bail came with strict conditions, including an 11 pm to 6 am curfew and the requirement to wear an electronic tag at all times.
Diezani Alison-Madueke left Nigeria in 2015 shortly before the transition from Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency to that of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that she embezzled $2.5 billion from Nigeria’s treasury during her time as the petroleum minister.
In August 2023, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) reported suspicions that Alison-Madueke received bribes in exchange for awarding multimillion-pound oil and gas contracts.
The NCA detailed various alleged benefits, including cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, luxurious holidays for her family, and multiple London properties, amounting to at least £100,000.
The NCA has played a role in aiding the US Department of Justice in recovering assets worth USD $53.1 million tied to the alleged corruption of Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Andy Kelly, the head of the NCA’s international corruption unit emphasized the significance of the charges, highlighting the harmful consequences of bribery and corruption, especially in developing countries.
“The Charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation.
“Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries. We will continue to work with partners here and overseas to tackle the threat,” Kelly said.
