Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has denied bribery allegations as her trial continues in the United Kingdom.
The 65-year-old former minister appeared before London’s Southwark Crown Court on the first day of her trial, where British prosecutors accused her of living a “life of luxury” funded by bribes while she served as Nigeria’s oil minister.
According to prosecutors, Alison-Madueke allegedly accepted multiple bribes between 2011 and 2015, during her time as Minister of Petroleum Resources under former President Goodluck Jonathan. The court was told that individuals and companies seeking lucrative oil and gas contracts with Nigeria’s state-owned petroleum corporation offered her significant financial and material benefits.
The prosecution argued that, as a government minister, she should not have accepted gifts or benefits from people and companies doing highly profitable business with government-owned oil and gas entities.
Alison-Madueke is accused of receiving money and other benefits from individuals linked to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups. Prosecutors said both companies later secured contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or its subsidiaries.
The court also heard that the former minister allegedly received £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven luxury cars, a private jet flight to Nigeria, as well as property renovation work and staff expenses for several homes in London.
Alison-Madueke has denied all the charges against her as the trial continues.
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