LONDON — An ex-Nigeria oil minister UK bribery trial opened at a London court with prosecutors alleging that former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke benefited from millions of pounds in luxury spending and services paid for by businessmen seeking influence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Alison-Madueke, 65, who served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 under former president Goodluck Jonathan, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. She denies all allegations.
The case is being heard at Southwark Crown Court and is expected to last about 12 weeks.
Alleged luxury benefits take center stage in ex-Nigeria oil minister UK bribery trial
Jurors were told that more than £2 million was spent at Harrods on behalf of Alison-Madueke using payment cards linked to Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko and his company, Tenka Limited. Prosecutors said she had access to a personal shopper reserved for Harrods’ highest-tier customers.
The court heard that Diezani Alison-Madueke was allegedly provided with what prosecutors described as “a life of luxury” in the United Kingdom, including the use of multimillion-pound properties, a chauffeur-driven car, private jet travel and £100,000 in cash.
Additional allegations include £4.6 million spent refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire, as well as the provision of domestic staff such as a housekeeper, nanny, gardener, and window cleaner. Prosecutors said the salaries and running costs were paid by owners of energy companies with lucrative contracts linked to Nigeria’s state oil sector.
Alexandra Healy KC, prosecuting, told the court the case concerns alleged bribery in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry between 2011 and 2015. She said individuals seeking to secure or retain contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries provided significant financial advantages to Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Properties, payments and contract links detailed in court
Jurors were shown photographs of a property known as The Falls in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, which prosecutors said was purchased in 2010 by Nigerian businessman Olajide Omokore, owner of Atlantic Energy.
From late 2011, Alison-Madueke allegedly had exclusive use of the property, which includes a cinema room. The court heard she stayed there intermittently over two years and spent about six weeks at the house while writing a book about Nigeria’s president.
Prosecutors said she was assisted by a chef and a driver who referred to her as “HM,” short for honourable minister. The court was told that refurbishment costs of about £300,000, along with related expenses, were paid by Tenka Limited, while Aluko’s companies were in the process of securing new oil contracts.
The court also heard that between May 2011 and January 2014, £500,000 was paid in rent for two flats in central London where Alison-Madueke and her mother lived. Records seized from Tenka’s offices in Nigeria allegedly show the company settled those costs.
Co-defendants and wider context
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who faces one count of bribery relating to her and a separate charge of bribing a foreign public official. He has denied the charges.
Her brother, Doye Agama, a former archbishop, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and is participating in the proceedings via video link for medical reasons. He also denies the allegations.
Prosecutors told jurors that while the alleged conduct relates to Nigeria’s oil industry, the case is properly being heard in the United Kingdom due to the global nature of bribery and corruption. They argued there is a strong public interest in ensuring that conduct within the UK does not facilitate corruption abroad.
Nigeria is one of the 13 member states of OPEC, and oil plays a central role in its economy. Prosecutors noted that despite the sector’s wealth, much of the population has not benefited from its revenues.
