Diezani Allison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, is scheduled to stand trial at the Southwark Crown Court on Monday, responding to allegations of bribery and corruption brought forth by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
Having recently appeared before a Westminster Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, where multimillion-pound allegations and corruption charges were addressed, the case has now been transferred to the crown court for the upcoming proceedings.
Confirming the developments, a Southwark Crown Court official informed The Guardian last Friday that the 63-year-old will be present for the Plea and Pre-Trial, specifically in courtroom 14. However, there’s no set duration for the trial, as the official mentioned that the schedule relies on the outcome of Monday’s proceedings.
Should Allison-Madueke plead guilty, it may lead to the avoidance of a full trial. On the other hand, if she enters a plea of not guilty, the court will proceed to schedule a trial date.
Allison-Madueke, who held a significant role in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government from 2010 to 2015, is under suspicion for allegedly receiving bribes in exchange for awarding contracts during her tenure as Minister for Petroleum Resources.
