The corruption trial of Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, resumed on Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court in London, with jurors hearing new evidence concerning millions of pounds reportedly spent on luxury property renovations.
Court proceedings shifted attention to a construction contractor associated with upscale London homes, as prosecutors sought to map what they described as a broader financial network of benefits moving through intermediaries.
Alison-Madueke, 65, faces multiple bribery charges stemming from a long-running investigation.
The alleged offences took place between 2011 and 2015, during her tenure as Nigeria’s oil minister, while she maintained a residence in the UK.
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA), which tackles international and organised crime, claims she received bribes on British soil.
Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting “financial or other advantages” from individuals linked to the Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups.
According to the prosecution, both companies won contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or its subsidiaries.
The former minister is said to have received £100,000 ($137,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet flights to Nigeria, as well as refurbishment and staffing costs at multiple London properties.
Other charges allege she obtained school fees for her son, luxury goods from London retailers including Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and additional private jet travel.
Alison-Madueke, who served as president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from 2014 to 2015, has faced numerous legal proceedings globally, including in the United States. She has been out on bail in the UK since her initial arrest in October 2015. In 2023, she was formally charged with accepting bribes, which she denies.
Two other individuals, her brother Doye Agama and Olatimbo Ayinde, are also facing bribery charges related to the case. Prosecutors note that all three defendants held UK addresses at the time of the alleged offences.
