Exclusive: Diezani Alison-Madueke In London Court, Looking For Bail Money To Escape Jail (Pictures)

Former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is at the moment fighting desperately at a London court to avoid going to jail after a magistrate in her pre-trial hearing over a six-count charge of corruption asked her to drop substantial money as bail.

British National Crime Agency with the assistance of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has made multiple allegations of corruption against the former powerful minister in the Goodluck Jonathan administration bordering on bribery for oil deals.

She is alleged to have accepted bribes while minister of petroleum in exchange for the awards of multi-million naira oil and gas contracts.

GWG.ng reports that prosecutors allege that she accepted at least $120,000 in cash, access to multiple high-end London homes, luxury holidays, and use of private jets in favour of oil and gas deals.

She is also alleged to have accepted valuable gifts from high-end shops including, Harrods, Cartier, among others.

Alison-Madueke who has been on bail since 2015 and who denies the allegations of corruption arrived the court on Monday morning with two other defendants appeared relaxed, smiling, and wearing a designer suit and brown beret.

However, her comfort soon turned to distress as the quest by her barrister for her to continue to enjoy bail in self-recognisance was turned down by the magistrate who insisted that she had to put down money as she is now a flight risk considering the imminence of her trial at the Crown Court later in October.

GWG.ng reports that Diezani Alison-Madueke offered $60,000 (N60m) but that was turned down by the magistrate who said that that was too small.

The magistrate is insisting that Diezani Alison-Madueke puts down more money otherwise she goes to jail at the end of the day and the former minister is said to be desperately rallying for cash to put forward to escape going to jail as that would amount to the revocation of her bail.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG