The former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, who is facing charges of alleged multi-million-pound bribery and corruption in the United Kingdom, has solicited prayers from her supporters as she awaits trial.
Allison-Madueke appeared before Judge Baumgartner at the Southwark Crown Court on Monday, along with two other defendants, Doye Agame and Olatimbo Ayinde.
Her lawyer told the court that she was eager to clear her name and move on with her life.
A friend of the former minister, who spoke to reporters outside the court, said that she was in a difficult situation and needed divine intervention.
“She told me ‘I need prayers’ and to ‘please pray for me’,” he said.
However, a senior lawyer from Nigeria, who came to represent one of the parties linked to the case, expressed confidence that the case was weak and unlikely to result in a conviction.
Emeka Ozoani (SAN) said that the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) had spent over five years investigating the case and had failed to produce strong evidence.
“I came to represent one of those linked to the case,” he said. “They (NCA) have spent five to six years investigating the case and are trying to justify what they’ve done with taxpayers’ money.”
Allison-Madueke is accused of receiving cash and gifts in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts during her tenure as minister under former president Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015.
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The trial, which is expected to last between seven to 10 weeks, has been adjourned to January 19, 2026, to avoid interruption by the Christmas break. The judge said that this date was more suitable for the case than November 3, 2025, which was the alternative option.