JUST IN: UK court grants Diezani £70,000 amidst bribery scandal

By our Correspondent

A Westminster Magistrates Court in the United Kingdom, former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was granted bail amounting to £70,000 on Monday.

Diezani appeared in court to face her charges and was subjected to additional sanctions, including an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, the requirement to wear an electronic tag at all times, and the posting of a £70,000 surety before leaving the court premises.

Although she did not formally enter a plea, her attorney, Mark Bowen, informed the court that she intends to plead not guilty, according to Reuters.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for October 30 at Southwark Crown Court, known for handling serious criminal cases.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had previously announced suspicions that Diezani accepted bribes in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts. The agency revealed that Diezani allegedly benefited from significant rewards, including cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, luxury family holidays, and the use of multiple London properties.

Furthermore, the charges against her include financial benefits such as furniture, property renovation work, staff for her properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops, including Cartier jewelry and Louis Vuitton goods.

In March 2023, the NCA provided evidence to the US Department of Justice that led to the recovery of assets totaling USD 53.1 million, which were linked to Diezani’s alleged corruption.