Ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani's Corruption Trial Begins in London

The corruption trial of former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has commenced in London. Alison-Madueke, 65, is accused of accepting bribes and conspiring to commit bribery while serving as Nigeria's oil minister from 2010 to 2015.

The prosecution alleges that she received benefits, including property refurbishments, luxury goods, and private jet flights, in exchange for improperly performing her official duties. Court documents reveal that she allegedly received bribes in various forms, such as school fees for her son and purchases from high-end stores like Harrods and Louis Vuitton.

Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court for a preliminary hearing last week, where technical and legal matters were discussed before the trial officially began. The trial is expected to last 10-12 weeks in a UK court.

The former minister has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has faced multiple corruption investigations by the Nigerian International Anti-Corruption Agency during her time in office.