Nigeria’s Former Oil Minister Stands Trial in UK on Bribery Charges

Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has gone on trial in London on charges of accepting bribes while in office.

The 65-year-old faces five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery at Southwark Crown Court. The charges relate to her time as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. The trial, which began on Monday, January 27, is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks.

British prosecutors told the court that Alison-Madueke accepted bribes, including luxury goods and the use of properties from industry figures interested in lucrative oil and gas contracts. The alleged benefits included at least 100,000 pounds in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, travel by private jet, vast quantities of luxury goods at Harrods and other stores, and 4.6 million pounds spent on refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire. Additional alleged benefits included furniture, payment of private school fees for her son, and gifts from designer shops such as Louis Vuitton.

Alison-Madueke denies all charges against her. She has been on bail since her first arrest in London in October 2015.

Two others are also standing trial on related bribery charges. Alison-Madueke’s brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and joined the trial by video link for medical reasons. Oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, faces one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official. Both deny the charges.

In 2023, the UK’s National Crime Agency provided evidence to US prosecutors that enabled the recovery of 53.1 million dollars in assets linked to Alison-Madueke, including luxury properties in California and New York and a 65-metre superyacht.

SOURCE:AFP