The Westminster Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom has postponed the hearing for the alleged £100,000 bribery case against Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, until November.
This decision follows her appearance before the court on October 2, where she was granted £70,000 bail by district judge Michael Snow. The judge outlined additional conditions, including an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, mandatory wearing of an electronic tag, and a £70,000 surety to be paid before leaving the court premises.
During her court appearance, Diezani provided her personal details, such as her name, date of birth, and residential address, but refrained from entering a formal plea. Her attorney, Mark Bowen, indicated that she intends to plead not guilty, as reported by Reuters.
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The UK’s National Crime Agency had earlier voiced suspicions that Diezani had accepted bribes in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts worth millions of pounds.
For further updates, the UK’s National Crime Agency has released a statement on its website, shedding light on its stance and ongoing investigation.
NCA said the ex-Nigerian minister
“is alleged to have benefitted from at least £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.
“Her charges also detail financial rewards, including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods.”
