Diezani in London Court for Preliminary Hearing on Bribery Charges

Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, DIEZANI ALLISON-MADUEKE, has appeared before a court in London, Unite Kingdom, for preliminary hearing of her trial for alleged bribery.

Sixty-five-year-old ALLISON-MADUEKE appeared before Justice THORNTON of Court Eight at the Southwark Crown Court in London.

The preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, are meant to set the stage for the actual trial, which begins on January 26, and could last up to twelve weeks.

ALLISON-MADUEKE was first arrested in London in October 2015, soon after fleeing Nigeria just before the end of the administration of former President GOODLUCK JONATHAN.

She is accused of benefiting from inducements of at least One Hundred Thousand Pounds in cash, as well as chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, and the use of multiple London properties, between 2011 to 2015.

The former Nigerian minister who was the first to man the Petroleum Ministry, denied the charges against her and has been on bail ever since.

She is being prosecuted by the British authorities alongside two others – DOYE AGAMA and OLATIMBO AYINDE, who also appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London.