Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, has been accused by British prosecutors of receiving luxury gifts, high-end properties, and financial favors from prominent individuals in the Nigerian oil sector, as stated during her corruption trial on Tuesday.
Alison-Madueke held the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and briefly served as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), becoming the first woman to occupy either of these roles.
At 65 years old, she is a significant figure in the ongoing legal proceedings regarding alleged corruption, having been charged in 2023 with five counts related to accepting bribes and one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. She has denied all charges, according to a report by Reuters.
Prosecutor Alexandra Healy conveyed to jurors at London’s Southwark Crown Court that Alison-Madueke led a life of luxury in London, where she frequently resided, funded by individuals seeking contracts with Nigerian government- owned companies.
Healy testified that high-end properties were made available to Alison-Madueke along with substantial amounts of luxury items, given by those who believed she would leverage her influence on their behalf.
Although there was no proof that Alison-Madueke improperly allocated contracts, Healy remarked that it was inappropriate for her to accept benefits from parties engaged in business with state-owned entities.
In the dock with Alison-Madueke was Olatimbo Ayinde, a 54-year-old executive from the oil industry, who is facing one count of bribery linked to Alison- Madueke and another count for bribing a foreign public official.
Additionally, Alison-Madueke’s brother, 69-year-old Doye Agama, is facing charges related to conspiracy to commit bribery, participating in the trial via video link for health reasons. Both Ayinde and Agama have denied their respective charges, as per the Reuters report.
The former minister is alleged to have accepted multiple financial benefits from individuals in the Nigerian oil sector between 2011 and 2015, which included the use of a chauffeur-driven vehicle and a private jet.
It is also claimed that Nigerian businessman Benedict Peters, named in the indictment but not currently on trial, covered her son’s school fees. Another businessman, Kolawole Aluko, is alleged to have spent over £2 million (approximately $2.75 million) on designer items for her at Harrods alone, as mentioned by Healy to the court.
Healy also noted that Alison-Madueke often stayed with her family in a mansion near London—acquired by Aluko, who purchased it for £3.25 million and covered expenses including bills, staffing, and renovations.
Ayinde reportedly bribed Alison-Madueke between 2012 and 2014 and also directed a bribe towards Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who is not part of the current trial, in 2015.
According to Healy, after Goodluck Jonathan was succeeded by Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, Ayinde allegedly paid a significant bribe to Kachikwu to ensure that Alison-Madueke's associate remained employed at NNPC.
As one of the largest oil-producing nations in the world, Nigeria is known for extracting around 1.53 million barrels per day as of December, representing roughly 1.4% of global output. However, pervasive mismanagement and corruption have impeded the country's growth and limited the benefits of its oil wealth for the broader Nigerian population.
Healy explained to the jury that, while it might seem unconventional for charges regarding bribery of Nigerian officials to take place in London, it highlighted the connections the three defendants have to the UK. She emphasized that corruption undermines global market integrity and that it is crucial to address behaviors in Britain that may further perpetuate corruption in other areas.
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