Ex-Nigeria oil minister stands trial in UK on bribery charges
A former Nigeria oil minister accepted bribes, including the use of properties worth millions of pounds and “a life of luxury in the UK”, from industry figures interested in government contracts, a London court has heard.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, was allegedly given a chauffeur-driven car, a trip on a private jet and £100,000 in cash.
Other benefits she allegedly received included “large quantities of luxury goods at Harrods and other high-end stores” and £4.6 million spent on refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire, the trial at Southwark Crown Court was told.
She denies five counts of accepting bribes and one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Alison-Madueke served as Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan.
Jurors were told she lived part of the time in the UK, where she had a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner.
Salaries and other operating costs were paid by the owners of the energy companies which had lucrative contracts with the Nigerian National Oil Corporation, the court was told.
“This case concerns corruption in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria during the period 2011 to 2015,” said Alexandra Healy KC, prosecuting.
“During this period, those interested in awarding and maintaining lucrative oil and gas contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or its subsidiaries, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, provided significant financial or other benefits to Alison-Madueke.”
Healy added: “It may seem strange to be dealing here in the UK with a case concerning corruption in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“We live in a globalized society. Bribery and corruption undermine the smooth functioning of the global market.
“There is an important public interest in ensuring that conduct in our country does not promote corruption in another country.”
Alison-Madueke sat in the dock alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who is charged with one count of corruption relating to Alison-Madueke and another count of bribery of a foreign public official.
Alison-Madueke’s brother, former Archbishop Doye Agama, 69, is accused of conspiracy to commit bribery and joined the trial via video link on medical grounds.
Ayinde and Agama also deny the accusations against them.
The trial – which is expected to last around 12 weeks – continues.
Oil plays an important role in Nigeria’s economy, but the population at large has not seen the benefits.
It is one of 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), created to manage global oil supply and its price.
