Diezani Corruption Case Begins In London.

 

The corruption trial of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is set to begin in London on Monday.

Alison-Madueke, who is 65 years old, is facing six charges linked to bribery, including five counts of taking bribes and one count of planning to commit bribery. 

The offences are said to have taken place while she served as Nigeria’s oil minister between 2010 and 2015.

Prosecutors said she collected money and other benefits from people connected to two energy firms in return for abusing her office during her time in government.

The alleged rewards include the renovation of several luxury homes in London, payment for workers in those homes, costly furniture, chauffeured cars, a private jet trip to Nigeria and £100,000 in cash.

Court papers also claim that she received school fees for her son, expensive items bought from top stores like Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and more private jet trips as part of the bribes.

The charge sheet said these actions showed that she failed to carry out her duties properly as petroleum minister.

The former minister appeared before a London court last week for early hearings where legal issues were discussed and jurors were chosen ahead of the main trial.

She did not enter any plea during those sessions. The case will be heard in a UK court and is expected to run for about 10 to 12 weeks.

Alison-Madueke has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing in past corruption cases, while local and foreign anti-corruption bodies have continued to investigate matters linked to her period in office.