The former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has claimed that because most decisions were made before they reached her desk, she had little influence on the approval of oil contracts while she was in office.
According to an exclusive by ThisDay, Alison-Madueke stated that contract procedures in the oil industry went through several agencies before reaching the minister (her) during her testimony at the Southwark Crown Court.
Recall that Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been on trial for bribery and conspiracy in London since 2015. Allegations over the former minister state that in exchange for giving her lucrative oil contracts, prosecutors claim she collected over £100,000 in cash, luxury goods, and private jet flights from oil businessmen.
The alleged benefits are described in the indictment and reporting as originating from individuals associated with two Nigerian energy companies: SPOG Petrochemicals and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nigeria Limited (Atlantic Energy).
In essence, the prosecution’s argument is “pay-to-play”, benefits in London and other places in return for control over Nigerian oil and gas contract awards over the 2011–2015 window.
ENigeria Newspaper has compiled a timeline of her trials since this year, as she periodically appears in court to defend claims and allegations against her.
2015 – Diezani Madueke initial arrest
Alison-Madueke and four other individuals were detained by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in London on suspicion of bribery and corruption crimes, according to a Reuters story on October 2, 2015.
A police spokeswoman, however, denied knowing anything about the incident. Afterwards, her family and the Nigerian government confirmed that she had been taken into custody in London, although the NCA declined to comment on the matter.
A few hours after her purported detention in London, anti-corruption officers from the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission stormed and sealed her Asokoro, Abuja, house.
2017 – Diezani Madueke assets seizure
In 2017, a Nigerian federal court confiscated 7.6 billion naira ($21 million) from Alison-Madueke’s bank accounts on August 28, 2017.
The kleptocracy team of the US Justice Department confiscated assets valued at $145 million that had been bought “for the benefit of” Ms. Alison-Madueke in 2017. The assets included residences in California, a $50 million apartment in New York, and the $80 million yacht Galactica Star.
2021 – Diezani and the Pandora Papers Leak
In October of 2012, Alison-Madueke was charged in the 2021 Pandora Papers leak with taking $17 million in gifts and property from three Nigerian oil businessmen in exchange for favors while serving as the Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources.
The following month, a 2019 lower court ruling upheld the permanent forfeiture of 2,149 jewelry pieces and an iPhone, worth at over $40 million, that were taken from her Abuja home.
2023 – Diezani’s appearance in court
Alison-Madueke appeared in court in the UK in October 2023 to be tried for bribery through a formal charge now. Additionally, the EFCC declared that they were pursuing Alison-Madueke’s extradition and had obtained an arrest warrant for her on money laundering accusations.
2024 – Diezani’s appearance date announced
The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, fixed January 19, 2026, for the trial of Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
2025 – Agreement between UK and Nigeria
An deal to repatriate $52.88 million recovered from Galactica assets linked to the former minister was struck in January 2025 by the governments of Nigeria and the United States. US investigators claim that Alison-Madueke and her colleagues bought a 65-meter superyacht, the Galactica Star, and upscale real estate in California and New York with the money from the alleged illegal contracts.
2026 – Diezani’s appearance in court
In January of 2026, Diezani’s case took a turn. She disassociated herself from the $52.5 million that was just returned to Nigeria from the United States, asserting that the funds associated with her in the media as plunder actually belonged to Kola Aluko, a Nigerian oil tycoon.
On April 14, 2026, Diezani testified before the Southwark Crown Court and denied accepting or soliciting bribes while in office.
The 65-year-old Mrs. Alison-Madueke told the court that she had “tried to push back on corruption” in Nigeria, describing it as a persistent issue that dates back to colonial times.
Two days ago, the former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, claims that because most decisions were made before they reached her desk, she had little influence on the approval of oil contracts while she was in office.
According to the former minister, she seldom denied contract clearances and didn’t tamper with decisions that had already been made by the system.
She claimed that direct ministerial control was not feasible due to the scale and complexity of the petroleum business, characterizing herself primarily as a “rubber stamp” in the process.
