Former OPEC president stands trial in London bribery case

(Bloomberg) – Diezani Alison-Madueke accepted cash bribes and “vast quantities” of luxury perks in exchange for handing over lucrative government contracts when she served as Nigerian oil minister, prosecutors said on the first day of a London trial. 

The 65-year-old former OPEC president is charged with five counts of accepting bribes from people linked to energy groups and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery between 2011 and 2015, according to an indictment. Alison-Madueke served as Minister for Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015, while in 2014 she became the first female president of OPEC.

“We live in a global society. Bribery and corruption undermines the proper functioning of the global market,” Alexandra Healy, the lead prosecutor said in court on Tuesday. “There is an important public interest in ensuring that conduct in our country does not further corruption in another country.”

Over the years, she is alleged to have taken £100,000 ($137,680) in cash as well as accepting flights on private jets, chauffeur driven cars and luxury goods from Louis Vuitton and Harrods, prosecutors said.  

She is alleged to have accepted £4.6 million on renovation work at London property she lived in, as well as the payment of private school fees.

Alison-Madueke was charged by the NCA in 2023 and denies all the charges against her. Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde are also facing charges linked to the bribery conspiracy.