Proceedings in the corruption trial of former Nigerian petroleum minister and ex-OPEC president, Diezani Alison-Madueke, were disrupted on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London after a technical failure stalled the prosecution’s opening statement.
The interruption occurred in Court 4 before Justice Thornton, when prosecutors informed the court that internet connectivity issues prevented them from delivering their opening address as scheduled. A court source confirmed that no substantive progress was made, with the prosecution deferring its presentation until the trial resumes on Tuesday.
Alison-Madueke, 65, is standing trial alongside two co-defendants on multiple corruption-related charges. She was seen entering and leaving the courtroom wearing blue trousers and using a walking stick, though no explanation was provided for the aid.
The former minister was physically present last week when preliminary proceedings commenced. She served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Alison-Madueke holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first female petroleum minister and the first woman to serve as OPEC president, though her tenure has been overshadowed by longstanding corruption allegations both domestically and internationally.
British authorities first arrested Alison-Madueke in London in October 2015 as part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation. She has remained on bail since. In 2023, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) formally charged her, alleging she received bribes between 2011 and 2015 in exchange for influence over lucrative Nigerian oil contracts.
The NCA claims that Alison-Madueke accepted cash payments exceeding £100,000, alongside luxury perks including chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, high-end London properties, designer items, luxury furniture, renovation services, household staff, and private school fees. Prosecutors are expected to argue these benefits were intended as inducements for favourable decisions within Nigeria’s oil sector, which handles billions of dollars in annual revenue.
The trial is expected to run 10 to 12 weeks, featuring witness testimonies, financial records, and property transaction evidence linked to the alleged bribery scheme.
Her co-defendants, Doye Agama, who appeared via video link, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was physically present in court, are also facing bribery charges connected to the case.
