The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has deferred the proceedings in the corruption case against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, to February 23, 2024. The decision was made by Justice Baumgartner following a plea and trial preparation hearing held in Courtroom 14 at Southwark Crown Court.
In the brief 15-minute session, neither the ex-minister nor her co-defendants, Olatimbo Ayinde and Doye Agame, were required to enter any plea. However, all three were asked to confirm their identities.
When questioned by the court clerk, Diezani Allison-Madueke acknowledged her identity with a nod and a “yes.” Meanwhile, Agame requested a modification of his bail conditions, allowing him to stay at a different location in the United Kingdom, which the judge granted. Currently, Allison-Madueke is on a £70,000 bond bail and must remain at her known London address between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. every day.
Prior to adjourning the session, the judge reminded Allison-Madueke and Ayinde about the bail terms, maintaining the existing conditions while altering Agame’s conditions.
The former minister, arrested in October 2015 by the Metropolitan Police, faces allegations by the NCA of accepting bribes in exchange for multimillion-pound oil and gas contracts during her tenure under the Goodluck Jonathan administration from 2010 to 2015. Additionally, as the former president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from 2014 to 2015, she is accused of receiving cash benefits of up to £100,000. However, she is yet to enter a plea to the charges. The proposed trial is expected to last between six and seven weeks.
