Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, is facing charges related to bribery offenses during her tenure in government, as announced by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) on Tuesday, the AFP has reported.

Alison-Madueke, aged 63, who previously served as the President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is scheduled to appear in a British capital court on October 2, according to the NCA.

Since her initial arrest in London in October 2015, Alison-Madueke has been on bail. Following her arrest, her family’s legal representative informed AFP that she would vehemently contest the corruption allegations that have shadowed her both during and after her time in the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Having held office from 2010 to 2015, Alison-Madueke was the first woman to serve as Nigeria’s oil minister and also the first female president of OPEC.

Andy Kelly, the head of the NCA’s international corruption unit, stated, “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million pound contracts.”

The NCA disclosed that Alison-Madueke allegedly enjoyed benefits totaling at least £100,000 ($127,000), including cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, luxurious family vacations, and the utilization of multiple London properties.

The charges further delineate financial rewards, encompassing furniture, property renovations, staff for the residences, private school fees, and presents from esteemed designer boutiques, including Cartier jewelry and Louis Vuitton items.

“Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries,” commented Kelly. “These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” he added.

Alison-Madueke has resided in the upscale St John’s Wood area of north London since her initial arrest. She has also undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer, as conveyed by her family.

The NCA, which targets international and organized crime, revealed that assets worth millions of pounds linked to the case have been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.

In March, the agency collaborated with the US Department of Justice, furnishing evidence that led to the recovery of assets totaling $53.1 million linked to Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.