By SUNTV Global Channel
January 28, 2026 | News
Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-OPEC President, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been captured on video walking briskly and unaided outside a London court, days after questions were raised over her use of a walking stick during court appearances.
The exclusive footage obtained by SaharaReporters shows the 65-year-old former minister leaving Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, accompanied by a bodyguard or driver who carried her handbag to a waiting BMW. In the video, Alison-Madueke appears steady and mobile, without the walking aid she had been seen using earlier in the week.
On Monday and Tuesday, Alison-Madueke was observed arriving at and departing from the same court with a walking stick, prompting SaharaReporters to question whether the aid was medically required or merely a support prop. No clarification was provided by her legal team or in open court regarding its necessity.
The video has since attracted widespread attention as Alison-Madueke stands trial in one of the most high-profile corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official abroad.
Allegations Before the Court
Prosecutors told the court on Tuesday that Alison-Madueke allegedly accepted £100,000 in cash while in office, alongside a range of luxury benefits from individuals seeking oil and gas contracts in Nigeria.
Lead prosecutor Alexandra Healy told the jury that the former minister received cash payments, private jet flights, chauffeur-driven vehicles, luxury accommodation, and designer goods from high-profile industry figures. These benefits allegedly included items from Louis Vuitton and Harrods, as well as stays in high-end London properties.
Alison-Madueke is facing six counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, linked to her tenure as Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The court heard that she allegedly received “financial or other advantages” from individuals connected to the Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups between 2011 and 2015.
She appeared before Judge Michael Snow alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, both of whom are also facing charges. Alison-Madueke has pleaded not guilty to all counts and has been on bail since her arrest in October 2015.
Prosecution’s Case
Addressing the jury, Healy stated:
“Bribery and corruption undermine the proper functioning of the global market,”
emphasising the international effort to prevent corruption from spreading across borders.
While prosecutors acknowledged there was no direct evidence that Alison-Madueke improperly awarded specific contracts, they argued that accepting valuable benefits from individuals engaged in highly profitable dealings with government entities was inappropriate, given her powerful position.
The prosecution further alleged that Ayinde bribed Alison-Madueke between 2012 and 2014, and later bribed former NNPC Managing Director Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu in 2015 to protect Alison-Madueke’s position following the election of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
A Controversial Legacy
Alison-Madueke remains a significant figure in Nigeria’s political history as the country’s first female petroleum minister and the first woman to serve as President of OPEC. However, her legacy has been overshadowed by corruption allegations since she left office in 2015.
In 2023, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) formally charged her, stating it suspected she had abused her position and accepted financial rewards for influence over multi-million-pound oil contracts.
According to prosecutors, the alleged benefits extended beyond cash to include luxury furniture, property renovations, household staff services, private school fees, and high-end designer items.
The trial is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks, with the court set to examine financial records, property transactions, and testimony from multiple witnesses as proceedings continue.
