Nigeria's ex-oil minister Alison-Madueke given 'luxury' life, UK bribery trial told

Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke took bribes, including luxury goods and the use of high-end properties, from industry figures interested in lucrative oil and gas contracts, British prosecutors said at her corruption trial on Tuesday.

Alison-Madueke was minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan and was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the first woman to hold either role.

The 65-year-old is now one of the most high-profile former energy officials to stand trial for alleged corruption, having been charged in 2023 with five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denies.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy told jurors at London's Southwark Crown Court that Alison-Madueke "enjoyed a life of luxury in London", where she often stayed, provided by those interested in contracts with Nigerian state-owned companies.

ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING USE OF PRIVATE JET

Healy said Alison-Madueke was given the use of high-end properties and vast quantities of luxury goods by people who "clearly believed she would use her influence to favour them".

There was no evidence Alison-Madueke awarded contracts to someone who should not have had one, but it was improper for her to have accepted benefits from those doing business with government-owned entities, Healy said.

Alison-Madueke sat in the dock alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who is charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.

Alison-Madueke's brother, 69-year-old Doye Agama, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery relating to Agama's church and is listening to the trial by video link for medical reasons.

Ayinde and Agama also deny the charges against them.

Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting various financial benefits from individuals in the Nigerian oil industry between 2011 and 2015. They include the use of a chauffeur-driven car and a private jet.