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A London court has been presented with allegations that a former Nigerian oil minister indulged in lavish spending at luxury shops in the city using funds derived from bribes by industry insiders. The court heard details of extravagant purchases linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015.
During a 2013 trip to Harrods, prosecutors say Alison-Madueke acquired expensive rugs, including those from the luxury label Alexander McQueen. Accompanied by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko and a security guard on that occasion, Alison-Madueke was described by a sales executive as appearing “extremely glamorous and wearing very expensive clothing.” Further testimony revealed she was a frequent customer at Vincenzo Cafferella, a high-end furniture and decorative arts store in north London, where she was known under the pseudonym “Sharon D.” Between October 2012 and November 2013, Aluko reportedly purchased items worth over £370,000 for Alison-Madueke, encompassing lamps and tables.
Prosecutors also detailed Alison-Madueke’s habit of spending extensive time shopping at Thomas Goode, a Mayfair retailer specializing in china and silverware. Staff recalled her fondness for the store’s goods despite admitting, “I don’t even know why I’m buying this, I haven’t got the room for it.” The court was told that many items were bought but never collected, with payments typically settled by Aluko and other Nigerian businessmen who owned energy companies benefiting from contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation during Alison-Madueke’s tenure.
The court heard further claims regarding shipments of furniture from a luxury store in Houston, Texas, destined for several London properties alleged to be used by Alison-Madueke. Two of these properties were reportedly purchased by businessman Benedict Peters, with photographs shown to the jury displaying items believed to have been acquired for the former minister’s use. Additionally, Alison-Madueke’s driver testified to picking up both her and then-President Goodluck Jonathan from one such address. Among other expenses highlighted were an £89,410 private jet charter from Luton to Lagos in January 2012 and a delivery of £100,000 cash from a north London bank to a nearby flat.
In 2015, police seized Alison-Madueke’s phone, uncovering recorded conversations including confrontations with Aluko regarding rumors about the gifts she received amid deteriorating relations. One such exchange from May 2014 featured Alison-Madueke expressing frustration, stating: “I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself… you’ll be shocked what I will do.” She also reportedly said, “Oh yes, I will blame myself… I will come out openly and say it so that they can judge me openly. And then all of us go and sit on the gate let us see who survived.”
Further testimony involved oil executive Igho Sanomi, whose company was awarded Nigerian state contracts during 2011 to 2015. The court heard that Sanomi ran shopping errands in London for Alison-Madueke. Text messages from her phone revealed his pledges of “loyalty and commitment,” including promises to retrieve Louis Vuitton hat boxes with replies such as: “Yes Your Excellency consider this done.” By 2014, Sanomi expressed concerns about their strained relationship and referred to himself as her “true soldier” in an email. Shortly thereafter, his company became part of a consortium awarded a new oil mining lease by Alison-Madueke.
Accompanying Alison-Madueke on trial are her brother, former bishop Doye Agama, 69, accused of conspiracy to commit bribery, with prosecutors alleging he received £1.2 million in bribes from businessman Benedict Peters intended to influence the minister’s official actions. Industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, faces charges of bribery connected to Alison-Madueke, as well as a separate count of bribing a foreign public official. Both Agama and Ayinde have denied the charges brought against them
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