Diezani Alison-Madueke Bribery Trial

Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Nigerian minister of petroleum resources, is currently on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, facing five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Prosecutors allege that Nigerian businessmen funded luxury expenses for her, including over £2 million spent at Harrods and £4.6 million on property refurbishments, in exchange for government contracts. Alison-Madueke, however, denies all charges, stating she never solicited or received bribes and always acted impartially. She claims that expenses incurred during her official duties were reimbursed by the NNPC, which had a service company in London to manage logistics. She also denied knowledge of a £100,000 cash delivery and asserted that her role in awarding oil contracts was largely ceremonial. Oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and Diezani Alison-Madueke's brother, Doye Agama, are also on trial, denying bribery and conspiracy charges, respectively. The trial is ongoing.