Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has expressed concerns over the fairness of her ongoing corruption trial in the United Kingdom, alleging that both British and Nigerian authorities have obstructed her ability to mount an effective defence.
In a statement issued through her media aide, Bolouere Opukiri, Alison-Madueke disclosed that her legal team believes she has been denied access to critical documents required to properly prepare her case.
According to her, the alleged failure of authorities in both countries to release these materials undermines the integrity of the judicial process.
“My lawyers are alleging that both the British and Nigerian governments, by their actions, denied me access to important documents needed to defend myself,” she said.
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Alison-Madueke further insisted that the trial should not proceed unless the requested documents are made available, stressing that continuing the case without full disclosure would be unjust.
“The trial should not continue if the authorities are unwilling to provide the materials necessary for my defence,” she added.
The case is currently before Southwark Crown Court in London and centres on allegations of bribery. Alison-Madueke, who also once served briefly as President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is standing trial alongside her brother, Doye Agama, 69.
Agama has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with activities linked to his church.
Another defendant in the case, Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, has also entered a not-guilty plea to charges of bribing Alison-Madueke between 2012 and 2014, as well as to allegations of bribery of a foreign public official.
Alison-Madueke’s defence team maintains that without full access to the requested documents, the proceedings cannot meet the standard of a fair trial. The court is expected to rule on the disclosure issues as the case progresses