ALLISON MADUEKE Trial: Former Petroleum Minister Accused of Enjoying Life of Luxury from Bribery

The bribery trial of Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, DIEZANI ALLISON-MADUEKE, finally kicked off in London, United Kingdom, yesterday, after twenty-four hours delay. During the opening session at London’s Southwark Crown Court, the Prosecutor accused DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE of enjoying a life of luxury from bribes while serving as Nigeria’s oil minister. The Prosecutor said during her time in office, between 2011 and 2015, those who were interested in lucrative oil and gas contracts with Nigeria’s state-owned petroleum corporation provided significant financial or other advantages to ALLISON-MADUEKE. Sixty-five-year-old ALLISON-MADUEKE is alleged to have received bribes in forms of One Hundred Thousand Pounds cash, chauffeur-driven cars, a private jet flight to Nigeria and refurbishment work and staff costs at several London properties. Other counts allege that she equally received bribes in forms of school fees for her son, products from high-end shops such as the Harrods department store and Louis Vuitton, and further private jet flights. ALLISON-MADUEKE denied the charges against her, and has been on bail since she was first arrested in London in October 2015.