Ex-Minister Diezani Alleges Unfair Trial In UK

Former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has raised concerns over the fairness of her ongoing bribery allegations trial in the United Kingdom.

In a statement by her media, Bolouere Opukiri, Alison-Madueke said her lawyers, Jonathan Laidlaw and Alistair Richardson, are alleging that both the British and Nigerian governments, by their actions, denied her access to important documents needed to defend herself.

She insisted that the trial should not continue if the authorities are unwilling to provide the materials necessary for her defence.

The corruption trial of Alison-Madueke is taking place at the Southwark Crown Court in London.

Alison-Madueke, who was also briefly President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is standing trial alongside her brother Doye Agama, 69, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery relating to his church.

Their co-defendant, Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, has pleaded not guilty to one count of bribing Alison-Madueke between 2012 and 2014 and one count of bribery of a foreign public official.