Ex-Nigeria oil minister stands trial in UK on bribery charges

A former oil minister in Nigeria accepted bribes, including the use of multimillion-pound properties and “a life of luxury in the United Kingdom”, from industry figures interested in government contracts, a court in London has heard.

Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, is alleged to have been provided with a chauffeur-driven car, travel by private jet, and £100,000 in cash.

Other benefits she allegedly received included “vast quantities of luxury goods at Harrods and other high-end stores” and £4.6m spent on refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire, the trial at Southwark Crown Court was told.

She denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Alison-Madueke was minister of petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jurors were told she lived some of the time in the UK where she was provided with a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner.

The salaries and other running costs were paid for by the owners of energy companies who had lucrative contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the court was told.

“This case is about bribery in relation to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria during the period 2011 to 2015,” said Alexandra Healy KC, prosecuting.

“During that time those who were interested in the award and retention of lucrative oil and gas contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or its subsidiaries the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, provided significant financial or other advantages to Alison-Madueke.”

Healy added: “It might seem strange to be dealing here in the UK with a case that concerns bribery in relation to the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“We live in a global society. Bribery and corruption undermine the proper functioning of the global market.

“There is an important public interest in ensuring that conduct in our country does not further corruption in another country.”

Alison-Madueke sat in the dock besides 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, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and joined the trial by video link for medical reasons.

Ayinde and Agama also deny the charges against them.

The trial – expected to last about 12 weeks – continues.

Oil plays a significant role in Nigeria’s economy, but the population at large has not seen the benefits.

It is one of the 13 members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), set up to deal with the worldwide supply of oil and its price.