Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, made an appearance in a London court on Monday, where she confronted allegations of bribery.
During her court appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court, Diezani provided her name, date of birth, and address, with minimal interaction.
Her legal counsel, Mark Bowen, conveyed her intention to plead not guilty to the charges, as reported by Reuters.
Diezani stands accused of receiving bribes in various forms, including cash, luxury items, private jet flights, and the use of upscale properties in the UK, in exchange for awarding lucrative oil contracts.
This former minister, also facing criminal charges related to fraud in Nigeria, had been apprehended in London back in 2015, shortly after her tenure ended. In August, she was formally charged with six counts of bribery, and for the past eight years, she has been on police bail, residing in the affluent St John’s Wood area of London.
Prosecutor Andy Young said Diezani allegedly received 100,000 pounds ($121,620) in cash which was to be used for payment of private school fees for her son, and to refurbish several luxurious properties in the UK.
He also said some of the bribes she took included the use of a Range Rover car, payment of bills for chauffeur-driven cars, furniture, and purchases from the upmarket London department store Harrods and from Vincenzo Caffarella, which sells Italian decorative arts and antiques.
District Judge Michael Snow granted Diezani bail. The former minister is to produce a surety who would pay 70,000 pounds. She is also to wear an electronic tag at all times. The judge also imposed an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
Diezani’s next court appearance will be at Southwark Crown Court, which deals with serious criminal cases, on October 30.
