Proceedings resumed on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London in the corruption and bribery trial of former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Alison-Madueke, the first woman to serve as president of OPEC, denies multiple charges relating to alleged misconduct while overseeing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Prosecutors allege she received cash, luxury gifts, and other benefits in exchange for influence over lucrative energy contracts.
During the third day of the trial, lawyers for Alison-Madueke formally denied the allegations, stating that she did not take bribes. The 65-year-old sat in the dock, taking notes as proceedings unfolded.
The charges, stemming from alleged offences between 2011 and 2015, relate to her tenure as Nigeria’s oil minister while maintaining a UK address. The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) claims she received bribes in Britain. Prosecutors have argued that Alison-Madueke enjoyed a “life of luxury” funded by individuals seeking contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries.
Defence lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw told the jury that “a great deal of material which would have established her innocence has been denied” due to the “gross delay in the bringing of these charges.” He added that British authorities had retained her passport since her arrest 11 years ago, preventing her from traveling to Nigeria to gather evidence.
Laidlaw said Nigerian ministers are prohibited from holding foreign bank accounts, and that documentation proving reimbursements for accommodation, purchases, and other expenses in the UK “has since disappeared,” leaving “material critical to her defence no longer available.”
Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting financial or other advantages from individuals linked to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical, both of which secured contracts with the NNPC or its subsidiaries. Alleged benefits include £100,000 ($137,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights to Nigeria, property refurbishments in London, school fees for her son, and luxury goods from Harrods and Louis Vuitton.
She has faced multiple legal cases internationally, including in the United States, and has been on bail in the UK since her arrest in October 2015. She was formally charged with accepting bribes in 2023, which she continues to deny.
Two other defendants, her brother Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing bribery charges linked to the case. All three reportedly maintained UK addresses at the time of the alleged offences.
Details later…
