Former Nigerian Oil Minister Accused Of Accepting Bribes In London Court

By ANDERSON (ANDY) CLIFF

UK Court Told of Alleged Cash Bribes and Luxury Benefits

PROSECUTORS in the United Kingdom have told a London court that former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, received substantial bribes from oil industry figures seeking access to lucrative contracts in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

At the opening of the trial at the Crown Court in Southwark on Tuesday, prosecutor Alexandra Healy alleged that Alison-Madueke accepted £100,000 in cash, alongside luxury benefits including private jet flights, chauffeur-driven vehicles, and high-end goods from brands such as Louis Vuitton and Harrods.

Charges Linked to Ministerial Tenure

The 65-year-old former minister is facing five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. The charges relate to her time in office between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the prosecution, Alison-Madueke allegedly received “financial or other advantages” from individuals connected to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups between 2011 and 2015.

She is standing trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, both of whom also face bribery-related charges.

Prosecution Details Alleged Benefits

Healy told the jury that Alison-Madueke frequently stayed in luxury properties provided by business figures with interests in Nigerian state oil contracts. She further alleged that the former minister received expensive gifts and other benefits from individuals who believed she would use her influence to advance their commercial interests.

However, the prosecutor clarified that there was no direct evidence that Alison-Madueke improperly awarded oil contracts. She maintained that accepting such benefits was inappropriate given the defendant’s powerful position.

Broader Anti-Corruption Message

Healy stressed the global implications of corruption, telling the court that bribery “undermines the proper functioning of the global market” and must be confronted to prevent its spread across borders.

Alison-Madueke has pleaded not guilty to all charges and was previously granted bail following her arrest in 2015.