UK Court Begins Corruption Trial Of Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke
Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources and former President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Diezani Alison-Madueke, is set to appear in a London court on Monday as her long-awaited corruption trial officially begins. The opening phase of the trial will begin this week with preliminary proceedings, including technical issues and jury selection, marking the first courtroom step in a case that has spanned nearly a decade. Alison-Madueke was physically present in court last week as the process got underway, ahead of the full trial expected to hear extensive evidence. The 65-year-old former minister, who served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing six counts of bribery connected to her time in office. She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Alison-Madueke holds a unique place in Nigeria’s political history, having been the country’s first female pet...