advertisementNigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges brought against her in a London court. Story continues below advertisementIn 2023, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency formally charged her, alleging that she accepted bribes over a four-year period between 2011 and 2015 when she served as Nigeria’s petroleum Minister. Other charges allege that she accepted bribes in the form of school fees for her son, luxury items from high-end retailers such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton, as well as additional private jet trips. However, she denied any wrongdoing when the allegations were read to her in court on Thursday. Laidlaw argued that personal expenses were repaid by Alison-Madueke in Nigeria, and expenses relating to official business were “reimbursed from government coffers.”Story continues below advertisementHer lawyer insisted that Alison-Madueke received no financial advantage as a result of her position as a Minister in Nigeria.