British prosecutors on Tuesday alleged that former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, lived a “life of luxury” funded by bribes received during her time in office.
Alison-Madueke, the first woman to serve as president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), appeared at London’s Southwark Crown Court on the opening day of her trial.
The 65-year-old is facing multiple counts of bribery linked to the period between 2011 and 2015, when she served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Prosecutors told the court that individuals seeking “lucrative oil and gas contracts” with Nigeria’s state-owned petroleum corporation allegedly provided “significant financial or other advantages” to Alison-Madueke.
As a serving minister, the prosecution argued, “she should not have accepted benefits from those who were doing, no doubt extremely lucrative, business in oil and gas with government-owned entities.”
According to the charges, Alison-Madueke received “financial or other advantages” from people connected to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups. Prosecutors said both companies obtained contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or its subsidiaries during her tenure.
The former minister is accused of receiving £100,000 ($137,000) in cash, access to chauffeur-driven vehicles, a private jet flight to Nigeria, and funding for refurbishment work and staff costs at several properties in London.
Additional allegations include bribes in the form of school fees for her son, luxury items from high-end retailers such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton, as well as further private jet flights.
Alison-Madueke, who led OPEC for one year between 2014 and 2015, has faced multiple legal actions across different jurisdictions, including the United States. In Nigeria, courts ordered the seizure of several properties belonging to her in 2017, with the assets valued at several million dollars.
A spokesperson for Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) confirmed that the commission still has “some subsisting cases against her,” but declined to provide further details.
She has remained on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and has consistently denied all allegations. Formal charges were brought against her in 2023.
At the time, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) said, “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.”
Also standing trial are Doye Agama, identified as her brother, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who are both facing bribery charges connected to the same case. Prosecutors told the court that all three defendants had British addresses at the time the alleged offences were committed.
Presiding judge, Justice Justine Thornton, stated that the trial is expected to conclude by April 24.
What you should know
Diezani Alison-Madueke was one of Nigeria’s most powerful figures in the oil sector and the first woman to head OPEC, making her case one of the most high-profile corruption trials involving a former Nigerian official abroad.
The UK prosecution focuses on alleged bribery tied to oil and gas contracts awarded while she was minister. Her legal troubles span several countries, with assets already seized in Nigeria.
The outcome of the London trial could have far-reaching implications for ongoing and future corruption cases linked to Nigeria’s petroleum industry and international financial crime enforcement.
