Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, for a preliminary hearing in her trial over alleged bribery offences.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015, was the first woman to hold the position and also the first female president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The case was listed on the cause list of Court 8 before Justice Thornton on Monday.

The former minister appeared in court for the preliminary hearing ahead of her full trial, which is scheduled to commence on January 26, 2026. Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, began this week, with Mrs. Alison-Madueke in attendance.

The 65-year-old has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015. She has denied all six charges brought against her.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke was formally charged in 2023 by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) with offences relating to the acceptance of bribes between 2011 and 2015.

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the NCA said at the time.

According to the indictment, Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly benefitted from at least £100,000 ($134,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets and the use of several London properties.

The charges further detail alleged benefits including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, the payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer brands such as Louis Vuitton.

The trial is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks, beginning on Monday, January 26.

Two other individuals are also facing prosecution on bribery charges linked to the case. Mr. Doye Agama appeared in court via video link on Monday, while Mr. Olatimbo Ayinde was present in the dock.