Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, recently appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, for the preliminary hearing of her bribery trial. The case, listed before Justice Thornton on Monday in Court 8, sets the stage for her full trial scheduled to commence on January 26, 2026.

Alison-Madueke, who served as minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, holds the distinction of being Nigeria's first woman oil minister and the first female president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2014.

The former minister was formally charged in August 2023 by the UK government, specifically the National Crime Agency (NCA), over an alleged £100,000 bribe. The NCA suspects that Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts during her tenure. She has denied the six charges brought against her.

Alison-Madueke has been on bail since her initial arrest in London in October 2015. In October 2023, she was granted bail in the sum of £70,000, with the Westminster magistrates court imposing strict conditions after deeming her a "flight risk." These conditions include an 11pm to 6am curfew, the mandatory wearing of an electronic tag at all times, and a £70,000 surety that had to be paid before she could leave the court building. Preliminary proceedings, encompassing technical matters and jury selection, have begun, with Alison-Madueke in attendance.

The alleged financial rewards detailed in the indictment extended beyond cash, including chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, and the use of multiple London properties. Further benefits are said to have comprised furniture, renovation work, and staff for these properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from top designer shops such as Louis Vuitton, totaling at least £100,000 ($134,000) in value. The full trial is anticipated to last between 10 to 12 weeks.

Beyond the UK prosecution, the Nigerian government and the United States signed an asset return agreement in January 2025 concerning $52.88 million recovered from the "Galactica assets" linked to Alison-Madueke.

The US government stated that Alison-Madueke and her associates allegedly used "proceeds of those illicitly awarded contracts" to acquire luxury real estate in California and New York, as well as the Galactica Star, a 65-meter superyacht. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also pursued assets connected to the former government official within Nigeria.

Two other individuals are also being prosecuted on bribery charges linked to this case: Doye Agama, who appeared in court via video link, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in the dock.