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The corruption trial of former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke in London failed to begin on Monday due to legal and technical issues, lawyers have said.
The 65-year-old, who once served as the first female president of OPEC, faces five counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. The charges relate to her time as Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015, during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan.
Lawyers said the trial may not start until Tuesday, as prosecutors and defence counsel must agree on which evidence the court will examine and complete jury selection.
Prosecutors accuse Alison-Madueke of receiving “financial or other advantages” from individuals linked to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups between 2011 and 2015. The alleged benefits include refurbishment and staffing costs for several London properties, furniture, chauffeur-driven vehicles, a private jet flight to Nigeria and £100,000 in cash.
Further charges allege that she accepted additional bribes, including her son’s school fees, luxury goods from retailers such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and more private jet flights. Prosecutors said these benefits amounted to the improper performance of her duties as oil minister.
Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court last week for preliminary hearings, including technical matters and jury selection, ahead of a trial expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks. Two others, Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, also face related bribery charges.
She has remained on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and has denied all allegations.
The UK’s National Crime Agency formally charged her in 2023, stating that investigators believe she abused her position in Nigeria by accepting financial rewards in exchange for awarding lucrative contracts.
Earlier in 2023, the NCA said it provided evidence to US authorities that led to the recovery of assets worth $53.1 million allegedly linked to the case. These assets included luxury properties in California and New York, as well as a 65-metre superyacht, Galactica Star.
