Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, made an appearance at the Westminster Magistrates Court in the UK, facing allegations of a £100,000 bribe.
District Judge Michael Snow granted Alison-Madueke bail in the sum of £70,000 but imposed several strict conditions due to concerns about her being a “flight risk.”
The conditions include an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, the requirement to wear an electronic tag at all times, and the payment of a £70,000 surety before leaving the court building.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for October 30 at the Southwark Crown Court, which deals with serious criminal cases.
Alison-Madueke was charged alongside her brother and Timbo Ayinde, an oil businessman, according to a source.
During the court proceedings, Alison-Madueke provided her name, date of birth, and address but was not asked to formally enter a plea. Her lawyer, Mark Bowen, indicated that she would plead not guilty.
In August, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) alleged that Alison-Madueke had accepted bribes in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.
The NCA’s statement detailed various benefits she allegedly received, including cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, luxury holidays, and the use of multiple London properties.
Furthermore, the charges against her include benefits like furniture, renovation work, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops.
The NCA has been actively investigating these allegations and previously provided evidence to the US Department of Justice, leading to the recovery of assets totaling USD $53.1 million linked to Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.
Andy Kelly, the head of the NCA’s international corruption unit, emphasized the importance of addressing bribery and its consequences, especially for developing countries.
In October 2015, Alison-Madueke and four others were arrested in the UK over alleged bribery and money laundering offenses.
While granted bail at that time, her passport was seized, and she was required to report to the Charing Cross police station.
Diezani Alison-Madueke served as the minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused her of embezzling $2.5 billion from Nigeria’s coffers during her tenure as minister.
