Nigeria’s 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 bribery case.

The matter was listed on Monday on the cause list of Court 8 before Justice Thornton. Alison-Madueke’s appearance marked an early procedural step ahead of the commencement of her full trial.

According to court records, the former minister attended the session in preparation for substantive proceedings, which are scheduled to begin on January 26, 2026.

Alison-Madueke is facing multiple bribery-related charges linked to her time in office, with UK prosecutors alleging involvement in large-scale corruption and illicit financial dealings.

The preliminary hearing focused on administrative and legal formalities, as the court set the stage for what is expected to be a closely watched trial with significant international attention.