Diezani Alison-Madueke attends Southwark Crown Court in London ahead of her bribery trial, accused of accepting £100,000 in illegal payments during tenure as petroleum minister

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday for a preliminary session in her ongoing bribery case.

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The matter was heard before Justice Thornton in Court 8, as listed on the court’s cause list.

The substantive trial is scheduled to begin on January 26, 2026.

In August 2023, UK authorities formally filed charges against Alison-Madueke, accusing her of receiving a £100,000 bribe in exchange for approving oil and gas contracts worth millions of pounds while she held public office.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) alleges the payments were illegal and linked to contracts awarded during her tenure from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Alison-Madueke, who also served as president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in 2014, was granted bail in October 2023 in the sum of £70,000, with strict conditions including a nightly curfew, electronic monitoring, and provision of surety.

The former minister’s case has also drawn international attention following a January 2025 asset repatriation agreement between Nigeria and the United States.

The agreement involved $52.88 million linked to the Galactica assets, reportedly connected to Alison-Madueke.

US authorities claim she and her associates purchased high-end properties in California and New York, as well as the 65-metre superyacht Galactica Star, using proceeds from illicitly awarded contracts.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria has also pursued several assets believed to be associated with Alison-Madueke.