British prosecutors have presented fresh evidence against Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, in her ongoing bribery trial,.
The prosecutors revealed that energy companies with lucrative contracts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) paid the running costs of her UK property and even financed her domestic staff salaries.
The revelations were made during the trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, where Alison-Madueke, alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother Doye Agama, is facing a five-count charge related to accepting bribes. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege that individuals with business dealings in Nigeria’s oil sector provided Alison-Madueke with various forms of luxury, including paying the salaries of her domestic staff, which included a housekeeper, nanny, gardener, and window cleaner.
These payments were said to have been made as part of an ongoing arrangement in exchange for favorable oil contracts from NNPC.
The court also heard that Alison-Madueke had a lavish lifestyle in London, financed by Kolawole Aluko, a Nigerian businessman with strong ties to the oil and aviation industries. Aluko, who has been linked to the Panama Papers for allegedly helping to move illicit funds abroad, reportedly provided Alison-Madueke with payments for luxury goods and services.
Prosecutors also highlighted Alison-Madueke’s lavish spending habits, particularly her high fashion tastes. The court was told that the former minister had a personal shopper at Harrods, one of the world’s most exclusive luxury department stores.
According to the prosecution, Aluko and his company, Tenka Limited, paid for her shopping spree at Harrods, where she spent over £2 million.
Aluko’s relationship with Alison-Madueke raised further questions when prosecutors revealed that his company’s payment cards were used to purchase high-end goods, including designer fashion items.
Furthermore, a Harrods personal shopper service—available only to customers who spend over £10,000 a year—was offered to Alison-Madueke as a perk of her spending at the store.
The bribery trial is centered around the accused’s acceptance of bribes in exchange for awarding oil contracts.
Prosecutors argue that while there is no direct evidence showing Alison-Madueke awarding specific contracts in return for the luxury items, the arrangement demonstrates improper behavior in her role as minister of petroleum resources.
The trial, which is expected to continue for several more weeks, sheds light on the extent of corruption during Alison-Madueke’s time in office. If convicted, she faces significant legal and financial penalties, and her case is part of broader international efforts to hold Nigerian officials accountable for corruption linked to the country’s oil wealth.
The trial continues with the defense maintaining that Alison-Madueke was not involved in any illicit activity.