News
Ex-Petroleum Minister Madueke appears in London Court over bribery charges
Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, for a preliminary hearing in her bribery trial.
The matter was listed on Monday before Justice Thornton in Court 8 of the Southwark Crown Court.
Alison-Madueke attended the session ahead of her full trial, which is scheduled to begin on January 26, 2026.
The hearing marked the early stage of proceedings in the case bordering on alleged bribery offences.
In August 2023, the ex-minister was charged by the UK government over an alleged £100,000 bribe.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said they suspected Diezani had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts during her stint in office.
Alison-Madueke was minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. She was also elected president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2014.
In October 2023, Alison-Madueke was granted bail bail in the sum of £70,000.
The Westminster magistrates court had imposed other conditions on Alison-Madueke after deeming her “a flight risk”.
The conditions included an 11pm to 6am curfew, an electronic tag to be worn at all times, and a £70,000 surety to be paid before she could leave the court building.
In January 2025, the Nigerian government and United States signed an asset return agreement on $52.88 million recovered from the Galactica assets linked to Alison-Madueke.
The US government had said Alison-Madueke and her associates purchased luxury real estate in California and New York as well as the Galactica Star, a 65-metre superyacht, using “proceeds of those illicitly awarded contracts”.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had also gone after assets linked to the former government official in Nigeria.
Follow Us on Google Discover
Mbappé makes history, Saka nets hat-trick as England clinch World Cup bronze with thrilling 6-4 victory over France
Gombe 2027: PDP aspirant withdraws court case, backs Pantami
Arabic Education should be integrated into national curriculum – Gov. Bala Mohammed
Obi/Kwankwaso ticket cannot win 2027 elections, NDC lone senator, Hanga says as he plots defection to APC
UNICAL moves to curb exam fraud, sacks eight staff, penalizes one
TCN announces power blackout in Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, three other Northern states
Police nab eight suspected cultists over alleged assault on Bayelsa Varsity student
Tems makes history as first African female artist with US Diamond-certified single
Imo now one-party state, our people have decided to re-elect Tinubu in 2027, Says Uzodimma
Court sentences two men to death by hanging for raping, murdering 17-year-old girl in Anambra
Trump criticises Tuchel’s tactics after England’s World Cup exit to Argentina
NBA Presidential Poll: Badejo-Okusanya leads as voting continues after cyberattack delay
APC crisis deepens as Aiyedatiwa’s loyalists sue party, INEC over Ondo primaries
NUJ FCT Chairman Grace Ike wins Beacon of Education Award, pledges support for children with special needs
5.0-magnitude quake rocks Southeastern Turkey
8 Public assets named after Tinubu since becoming president (Full List)
JUST IN: Three face trial over Oyo schoolchildren, teachers’ abduction
TCN announces power blackout in Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, three other Northern states
Supreme Court directs final forfeiture of Emefiele’s properties
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s son bags degree in UK
Court sentences two men to death by hanging for raping, murdering 17-year-old girl in Anambra
APC crisis deepens as Aiyedatiwa’s loyalists sue party, INEC over Ondo primaries
FG renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Tinubu
Yobe approves ₦460.8m support for Akara sellers, Women petty traders
Bauchi 2027: APC picks ex-Bala Mohammed campaign DG Faruk Mustapha as Deputy Gov candidate
Imo now one-party state, our people have decided to re-elect Tinubu in 2027, Says Uzodimma
BREAKING: Andy Burnham confirmed as UK Labour leader
It’s too early to judge Tinubu’s gov’t, Nigerians must be patient – Jide Kosoko
Court dismisses suit seeking INEC recognition of Turaki-led PDP interim NWC
