Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, for the preliminary hearing of her trial premised on bribery charges.

Alison-Madueke, who was in office from 2010 to 2015, was the first woman oil minister in Nigeria and the first female president of the global oil cartel Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The case was listed on the cause list for Court 8 before Justice Thornton on Monday.

Alison-Madueke was in court for the preliminary hearing ahead of her full trial, scheduled to commence on January 26, 2026.

Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, began this week, with Alison-Madueke in attendance.

The 65-year-old has been on bail since she was first arrested in London in October 2015. She has denied six charges against her.

She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency with offences of accepting bribes between 2011 to 2015.

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the NCA said at the time.

According to the indictment, Alison-Madueke benefitted from at least £100,000 ($134,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, and the use of multiple London properties.

The charges also detailed financial rewards including furniture, renovation work, and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from top designer shops such as Louis Vuitton.

The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 26, and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.

Two others are also being prosecuted on bribery charges linked to the case: Doye Agama, who appeared in court via video link on Monday, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in the dock.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, has described the reported kidnap of over 100 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government as a falsehood being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs seeking to create chaos in the state.

Conflicting reports on Monday claimed that over 100 people were abducted by bandits during a church service at Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru on Sunday.

However, addressing reporters after the State Security Council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, the Commissioner of Police challenged anyone to provide the names of the alleged kidnapped victims and other particulars.

He warned those he described as rumour mongers to desist from attempting to derail the prevailing peace in Kaduna State, adding that the full wrath of the law would be visited on such merchants of falsehood.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Dauda Madaki, said that upon hearing the rumour of the attack, he mobilised the police and other security forces to Kurmin Wali, only to find that no attack had occurred.

“We visited the church where the so-called kidnap took place. There was no evidence of any attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he confirmed that no such attack occurred.

“I also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, who was interviewed by the press team that accompanied me, and he said that nothing of the sort happened.

“So, I challenge anyone to provide the names of the kidnapped individuals. I have been waiting for this list, but no one has come forward.

“I believe the rumour of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are unhappy with the relative peace Kajuru has been enjoying since the coming of this administration,” he added.

He advised the people of the area to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, urging them to report any suspicious movements or rumour mongers to security agents.

In his response, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shauibu (SAN), said that the CAN chairman and other religious leaders had interacted with the people of the area where the so-called kidnap allegedly occurred.

“They found out that what was circulated to the public was completely false,” he said, assuring that “Kaduna State Government has zero tolerance for criminality.”

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has expressed confidence that the collaboration between the party and the Obidient Movement will dislodge the All Progressives Congress from power in 2027.

Odigie-Oyegun, a former National Chairman of the APC, spoke on Monday in Benin during the mass defection of members of the Obidient Movement into the ADC in Edo State.

The development comes weeks after former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, formally joined the ADC.

Welcoming the Obidient Movement on Monday, Odigie-Oyegun said the influx of the Obidient Movement into the party signalled the readiness of Nigerians, particularly the youth, to engage in the struggle for a leadership change and national rebirth.

According to him, the calibre of individuals joining the ADC reinforces the belief that a new Nigeria is achievable.

“A new Nigeria is truly possible,” Odigie-Oyegun said.

“A few days ago, I was in a hall when a colourful and important personality, Dele Momodu, joined us. Today is the first time I am seeing youths who are genuinely committed to nation-building. It is also my first time meeting members of the Obidient Movement in this number, and we are convinced that the youth of this country are ready.”

He described the decision of the Obidient Movement to join the ADC as a deliberate choice to take ownership of the struggle for change.

“You have decided to take up the struggle yourselves by joining the ADC, and I am happy. From the day this coalition came together, I was convinced that we are on the right path,” he said.

Odigie-Oyegun said dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in the country and Edo State should serve as motivation for collective action.

“We have one target: we have a country to save. We must ensure that through the ADC, we make a new Nigeria possible,” he added.

Also speaking, the Edo State Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Asemota Idiogbe, said the ADC provided the most viable platform to challenge the APC both in Edo State and at the national level.

“This is the right party to battle the APC in Edo and Nigeria. ADC will take over Edo and the country,” he said.

Idiogbe expressed optimism that the party would field Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and eventually produce the next president.

“We expect Peter Obi to be the President. We are here to strengthen the party, not to ask for positions. We will influence the masses to vote for the ADC. The party is for people who want a better Nigeria,” he said.

He added that leaders of the Obidient Movement were instrumental in building the Labour Party, but insisted that the movement had now fully merged into the ADC.

“We are self-funded. We do not share money to mobilise people. Some of those who won on our platform betrayed us and joined the APC,” he said.

The Edo State Chairman of the ADC, Kenneth Odion, welcomed the Obidient Movement into the party, saying the development positioned the ADC for strong electoral performance in future elections.

The State Woman Leader, Faith Ebodaghe, described the ADC as a rescue platform, urging women to play an active role in the political struggle.

“The ADC is on a rescue mission. We are the David sent to confront Goliath. With our voter cards, we will bring down the APC,” she said.

“The pain is enough. When we deliver, the pain will be no more. Women must be ready to fly and change the narrative.”

The Obidient Movement played a key role in Peter Obi’s strong showing in the 2023 presidential election, where he finished third behind President Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.