Diezani Allison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, has appealed for prayers in light of the numerous allegations and charges of bribery and corruption brought against her by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA).
Allison-Madueke, alongside co-defendants Doye Agame and Olatimbo Ayinde, appeared before a Southwark Crown Court judge during the Plea and Trial Preparation hearing in Courtroom 14. Her attorney informed the court that she is eager for the case to proceed and wishes to move forward with her life.
After the hearing in the fifth-floor courtroom, a prominent member of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom, who knows the former minister, shared a conversation with her. He expressed sympathy for her situation and revealed that she had asked for prayers.
In the meantime, a prominent Nigerian lawyer, Benedict Peters, who had flown in from Nigeria to represent his client, commented that he believed the case was weak and unlikely to succeed.
During the court proceedings, Emeka Ozoani (SAN) argued that the NCA had invested significant time and resources investigating the case and suggested they were attempting to justify their expenditure with taxpayer funds.
Allison-Madueke is scheduled to appear in court next in February of the following year. The NCA alleges that she received financial and non-financial benefits related to multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts awarded during her tenure in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration between 2010 and 2015.
During the hearing on Monday, both sides of the legal team estimated that the trial would last between seven to ten weeks, with a potential start date not earlier than November 2025. They expressed a desire to avoid interruptions during the trial, even during the Christmas period.
When the crown prosecutor suggested two possible start dates, January 19, 2026, or November 3, 2025, the judge, Baumgartner, deemed January 19, 2026, to be more suitable for the case.
