UK court postpones hearing on Diezani’s case until 2025 due to an alleged £100,000 bribe

The case involving Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been postponed until November 2025 by the Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom.

The trial of Alison-Madueke included an alleged £100,000 bribe.

By the time of her second trial, she would have been in the UK for ten years.

Alison-Madueke was granted £70,000 bail by Westminster Magistrates Court district judge Michael Snow on October 2, following his determination that she posed a flight risk.

Before Alison-Madueke was granted bond, Snow had placed severe restrictions on her, such as an electronic tag that must be worn at all times and an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

Shortly before former President Muhammadu Buhari took over from Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, the former minister departed Nigeria.

As a minister, Alison-Madueke is accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of embezzling $2.5 billion from Nigeria’s treasury.

Alison Madueke and four other individuals were taken into custody in the United Kingdom in October 2015 on suspicion of bribery and money laundering.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom stated in August 2023 that they believed Alison-Madueke had taken bribes in exchange for giving multimillion-pound contracts for oil and gas.

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Alison-Madueke “is alleged to have benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties,” according to a statement released by NCA and posted on its website.

Additionally, in March of this year, the NCA gave the US Department of Justice evidence that allowed them to seize assets worth USD $53.1 million that were connected to Alison-Madueke’s alleged misconduct.

The accusations “mark a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” according to Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s international corruption section (ICU).

“One widespread kind of corruption that can have disastrous effects on emerging nations is bribery, which fosters major criminal activity. To combat the threat, we will keep collaborating with allies both domestically and abroad,” Kelly stated.