Ex-Nigerian oil minister denies taking bribes
Ex-Nigerian Oil Minister Denies Taking Bribes
Defense Claims Expenses Were Repaid by State Agency
Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, appeared before Southwark Crown Court on Monday, asserting she never solicited or accepted bribes from Nigerian businessmen. The former minister stated she had “tried to push back on corruption” in a nation long associated with it, dating back to its colonial era. While accused of receiving luxury accommodations and extravagant spending in the UK as part of a deal for government contracts, she argued that all associated costs were later reimbursed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
“I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort from these persons and did not abuse my office,” Alison-Madueke declared. “I always sought to act impartially.”
Alleged Luxury Spending and Official Use
Prosecutors allege that Alison-Madueke was provided access to multiple high-value properties, including a £2.8 million home in Marylebone and residences near Regent’s Park. These were reportedly renovated for over £4.6 million, with the court hearing claims that she personally benefited. However, the ex-minister claimed one of these properties was used for discreet official meetings, while another was “completely gutted” and unsuitable for living when she first viewed it.
She also mentioned that during a Christmas 2011 stay at a Gerrards Cross home, her ex-husband’s hospital treatment necessitated the use of the property. Alison-Madueke emphasized she had no role in organizing the stay, which was reportedly funded by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko. Aluko, along with other unnamed individuals, is said to have covered the rent for two apartments in St John’s Wood, a cost she claimed was more economical than paying for high-end hotel suites.
From Shell to OPEC Leadership
The court explored Alison-Madueke’s career at Shell, where she ascended rapidly to become the first senior female executive in the company’s Nigerian operations. Despite her initial reluctance to work for the multinational due to its treatment of her father—a former employee who had challenged Shell for “apartheid practices” in the Niger Delta—she accepted the role. She described her tenure as “uncomfortable” but highlighted her father’s legal battle against oil spills in the region.
“I didn’t believe the company had done enough to make good on the devastation they had caused,” she said, referring to Shell’s struggles with environmental damage in the Niger Delta.
Security Threats and Family Involvement
Alison-Madueke mentioned ongoing security risks in Nigeria, describing the country as a “patriarchal society” where a woman in leadership was seen as a “major no no.” She revealed that she faced “dire threats of kidnap” and that family members were seized during the trial period. Additionally, she testified that a chauffeur delivered £100,000 in cash to her, though she claimed the money was unrelated to her decisions.
Broader Legal Proceedings
The case includes other defendants, such as oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who denies one count of bribery and another of bribing a foreign public official. Alison-Madueke’s brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, is also part of the trial, though he denies involvement in the alleged misconduct. The prosecution’s focus remains on five counts of accepting bribes and one of conspiring to do so, with the ex-minister maintaining her innocence throughout.
