Jury Begins Deliberations in Diezani Alison-Madueke Trial

The jury in the corruption trial of former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has begun deliberations after nearly four months of proceedings at Southwark Crown Court in London.

According to Reuters, the jury was sent out shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Monday to consider verdicts on eight charges involving Alison-Madueke and two co-defendants.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Prosecutors alleged that the former minister lived a lavish lifestyle in London, claiming she received luxury accommodation and expensive shopping trips from oil industry figures seeking access to lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

However, lawyers representing Alison-Madueke argued that she merely acted on official recommendations and did not personally influence contract decisions.

While testifying before the court last month, she denied all allegations.

“At no time did I ask, take, or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort,” she told the jury.

Also standing trial is oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who faces one count of bribery involving Alison-Madueke and another count relating to the bribery of a foreign public official.

In addition, Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery connected to his church.

Both Ayinde and Agama have denied the allegations against them.

The trial, which began in late January, has attracted significant international attention due to Alison-Madueke’s former role as Nigeria’s petroleum minister and her brief tenure as president of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.