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The corruption trial of Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, continued on Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court in London, with jurors hearing fresh testimony regarding millions of pounds allegedly spent on refurbishing luxury properties in London.
Prosecutors focused on a construction contractor linked to high-end London homes, seeking to trace a broader financial trail of benefits allegedly distributed through intermediaries.
The 65-year-old former minister faces multiple bribery charges relating to offences allegedly committed between 2011 and 2015, while she was Nigeria’s oil minister and maintained a UK address.
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA), which investigates serious and organised international crime, claims Diezani received bribes in Britain.
She is also accused of accepting “financial or other advantages” from individuals connected to the Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups, companies that secured contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or its subsidiaries.
The allegations include £100,000 ($137,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights to Nigeria, refurbishment work, and staff costs at several London properties.
Other charges include her son’s school fees, high-end merchandise from stores like Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and additional private jet travel.
Alison-Madueke, who served as OPEC president between 2014 and 2015, has faced legal proceedings in several countries, including the United States.
She has been on bail in the UK since her arrest in October 2015 and denies all charges. Two others, Doye Agama, her brother, and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also being prosecuted on bribery charges linked to the case.
All three defendants reportedly held UK addresses at the time of the alleged offences.
