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Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has firmly denied allegations of bribery and abuse of office while testifying in an ongoing trial in the United Kingdom.
Appearing before the Southwark Crown Court on Monday, the 65-year-old maintained that she neither solicited nor accepted any form of bribe during her time in office. She told the court that her actions as a public official were guided by fairness and integrity.
“I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort from these persons and did not abuse my office,” she said, adding that she always aimed to act impartially in the discharge of her duties.
Prosecutors, however, allege that several Nigerian businessmen funded a series of luxury expenses on her behalf. These reportedly include more than £2 million spent at high-end retailer Harrods, as well as about £4.6 million used for the renovation of properties located in London and Buckinghamshire. The court also heard claims that she had access to multiple expensive residences, including a £2.8 million property in Marylebone.
In response, Alison-Madueke argued that many of the expenses were tied to official responsibilities and were later reimbursed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company. She explained that her logistics and travel arrangements were handled by a London-based firm due to what she described as the complex financial structure of the organisation.
“They paid for all my hotels, chauffeurs… to allow me to perform the job that I did,” she told the court.
The former minister also addressed specific instances raised during the trial. She confirmed that she spent time at a property in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, during Christmas in 2011 with members of her extended family, but insisted she had no role in arranging the stay.
On another occasion, she said she stayed for over two weeks at a different property alongside officials while working on a publication intended to highlight the Nigerian president’s support for women. According to her, the project was a personal initiative aimed at showcasing progress in gender inclusion.
“I took it upon myself to put together that book to showcase what he did for women,” she explained.
Further allegations presented in court included claims about the use of a residence near Regent’s Park for confidential meetings. Alison-Madueke acknowledged that the property was used for official engagements, while noting that another residence mentioned by prosecutors was still under renovation and not habitable at the time of her visit.
The court also examined claims that rent for apartments in St John’s Wood, where she reportedly stayed with her mother, was paid by businessman Kolawole Aluko. In her defence, she argued that the arrangement was a cost-effective alternative to staying in luxury hotels, where nightly rates could reach up to £2,000 at establishments such as The Savoy and The Dorchester.
Addressing another accusation, Alison-Madueke denied any knowledge of a £100,000 cash delivery allegedly made by one of her drivers, stating that the incident had no connection to her.
During her testimony, she also reflected on her earlier career at Shell, where she rose to become the company’s first senior female executive in Nigeria. She spoke about challenges she faced, including tensions linked to her father’s past dispute with the oil firm, as well as her criticism of Shell’s handling of environmental issues in the Niger Delta.
She further highlighted the pressures of serving in a high-profile government role, describing Nigeria as a patriarchal society where female leadership often faced resistance. According to her, she encountered serious security threats during her tenure, including kidnapping incidents involving members of her family.
Alison-Madueke is currently facing five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, all of which she has denied. Also standing trial are oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, both of whom have pleaded not guilty to related charges.
The trial remains ongoing as proceedings continue in the UK court.
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