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A London court has heard allegations that a former Nigerian oil minister accepted bribes from industry representatives seeking government contracts, which included the use of high-value properties and an extravagant lifestyle in the United Kingdom. Diezani Alison-Madueke, aged 65, is accused of receiving substantial benefits such as a chauffeur-driven vehicle, private jet travel, and £100,000 in cash. According to the prosecution at Southwark Crown Court, her perks also extended to large sums spent on luxury shopping at Harrods and other exclusive retailers, alongside £4.6 million used to refurbish homes in London and Buckinghamshire.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, denies all five bribery charges and a conspiracy to commit bribery. Evidence presented to the jury revealed that she spent part of her time residing in the UK, in homes supported by staff including a housekeeper, nanny, gardener, and window cleaner. The costs of these employees and upkeep were allegedly covered by owners of energy firms that secured profitable contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, a state-owned enterprise.
Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC described the case as centered on bribery linked to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector between 2011 and 2015. Healy explained that companies vying for lucrative deals with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries—the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and the Pipelines Product Marketing Company—provided significant financial advantages to Alison-Madueke. “It might seem strange to be dealing here in the UK with a case that concerns bribery in relation to the Nigerian oil and gas industry,” Healy said, emphasizing the importance of addressing corruption on a global scale and preventing the UK from being a facilitator of such misconduct abroad.
Alongside Alison-Madueke, oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, aged 54, faces bribery charges connected to her, as well as a separate charge concerning bribery of a foreign public official. Additionally, Alison-Madueke’s brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, who is accused of conspiracy to commit bribery, has joined the proceedings via video link due to health reasons. Both Ayinde and Agama have pleaded not guilty. The trial, which is anticipated to last about 12 weeks, sheds light on Nigeria’s reliance on oil—a major economic driver for the country and a member of OPEC—despite the wealth not materially benefiting the wider population
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