Ex-Nigerian oil minister denies taking bribes

Ex-Nigerian Oil Minister Denies Bribery Claims

A former Nigerian oil minister, accused of receiving luxury accommodations and extravagant expenditures in the UK in return for securing government contracts, has denied accepting bribes. Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, testified at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, asserting that she had “tried to push back on corruption” in a nation where such practices have long been entrenched since its colonial era.

Prosecution’s Allegations

The prosecution claims Alison-Madueke was given access to a “grand” residence in Buckinghamshire, a £2.8 million home in Marylebone, and multiple high-value properties in London. These assets, they argue, were linked to renovations costing £4.6 million and were used to benefit her personally.

“I can confidently assert that I never solicited, accepted, or received any bribe from these individuals, nor did I misuse my position,” Alison-Madueke stated.

Defense Arguments

Alison-Madueke explained that the costs of her expenses during official duties were reimbursed by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). She added that a London-based service firm was created to manage the logistics, citing the NNPC’s financial structure as disorganized at the time. “They paid for all my hotels, chauffeurs, and other services to enable me to fulfill my responsibilities,” she said.

During a holiday in 2011, she and her ex-husband stayed in a Buckinghamshire property for five days due to his medical needs. She claimed she was not involved in the arrangements for this stay. A second visit, spanning two weeks, involved her and up to 12 officials working on a book honoring the Nigerian president’s support for women. “I initiated this project to highlight his contributions to women’s empowerment,” she stated.

Alison-Madueke also described a property overlooking Regent’s Park as used for discreet meetings, while another, which she said was entirely renovated, was not functional when she first viewed it. The court previously heard that she and her mother resided in St John’s Wood apartments, with rent covered by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko, who is not on trial. She argued that this arrangement was more economical than paying for high-end hotel suites, such as those at the Savoy or Dorchester, costing £2,000 per night.

Background and Motivations

At Shell, Alison-Madueke rose quickly to a senior role, becoming the first female executive in the company’s Nigerian operations. Despite her reservations about working for the multinational, she acknowledged her father’s past legal battles against Shell for practices resembling apartheid in the Niger Delta region. “I found the job uncomfortable,” she said, noting her father, a tribal leader, had once taken legal action against Shell for its environmental impact.

She also addressed security concerns, stating Nigeria’s patriarchal nature made her position as a female leader a target. “I faced severe threats of kidnapping, and family members were seized,” she recounted. The court also discussed her 2015 election as the first woman to lead the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a milestone she described as significant.

Other Defendants

Alongside Alison-Madueke, oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, denies one count of bribery and another of bribing a foreign public official. Her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, also faces charges but has not yet been formally accused.