British prosecutors have accused Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, of receiving bribes in the form of luxury goods and the use of expensive properties from individuals seeking oil contracts in Nigeria.
The allegations were presented on Tuesday at the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, as Alison-Madueke’s trial continued. The former minister is standing trial alongside Mr Olatimbo Ayinde, an oil executive, and her brother, Mr Doye Agama.
The three defendants are facing a five-count charge related to the alleged acceptance of bribes. All of them have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to reports presented in court, British prosecutors claim that Alison-Madueke enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in London that was allegedly funded by businessmen with interests in Nigeria’s oil industry.
Addressing the jury, prosecutor Alexandra Healy said the former minister lived in luxury while in the United Kingdom, using properties and items paid for by people who believed she could influence oil deals in their favour.
“She enjoyed a life of luxury in London,” Healy told the court, adding that the benefits were provided by individuals who wanted access to oil contracts in Nigeria.
The prosecutor said Alison-Madueke was given the use of high-end properties and received expensive luxury items from industry figures who believed she would use her position to help them secure oil contracts.
One of the businessmen mentioned in the case is Mr Kolawole Aluko, a Nigerian oil trader. Although Aluko is named in one of the charges, he is not standing trial in the current proceedings.
According to the prosecution, Aluko spent more than £2 million on luxury items for Alison-Madueke at Harrods, a famous high-end department store in London. The items reportedly included designer goods and other expensive purchases.
The court was also told that Alison-Madueke and her family often stayed in a large mansion outside London that was allegedly bought by Aluko.
Prosecutors said the mansion was purchased through a company for about £3.25 million. They added that Aluko also paid for the running costs of the property, including staff wages, household bills, and renovation work.
Healy told the jury that the former minister made frequent use of the property and treated it as part of her living arrangements while in the UK.
However, the prosecutor made an important clarification in court. She said there was no evidence that Alison-Madueke awarded oil contracts to people who did not deserve them or who were not qualified.
Despite this, Healy argued that it was still improper and unlawful for a serving minister to accept valuable gifts and benefits from individuals who were doing business with government-owned oil agencies.
“The issue is not whether contracts were wrongly awarded,” the prosecutor explained. “It is about the acceptance of benefits from those with business interests before the government.”
Alison-Madueke served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. During that period, she was one of the most powerful figures in Nigeria’s oil sector, which is the backbone of the country’s economy.
Nigeria relies heavily on oil exports for government revenue and foreign exchange, making the petroleum ministry one of the most sensitive and influential positions in the country.
In 2014, Alison-Madueke also made history when she was elected President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), becoming the first woman to hold the position.
Her appointment and later her leadership role at OPEC brought her international recognition and placed Nigeria at the centre of global oil discussions.
However, her time in office was also marked by several corruption allegations, both within Nigeria and abroad. After leaving office in 2015, she became the subject of multiple investigations related to the management of oil revenues and alleged financial misconduct.
The current trial in London is one of several legal cases linked to her tenure as petroleum minister. British authorities have previously investigated suspected money laundering and corruption involving Nigerian oil deals.
The inclusion of Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, and oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde in the trial suggests prosecutors believe the alleged bribe arrangements involved close associates and business partners.
While details of their specific roles were not fully outlined during Tuesday’s court session, prosecutors said the case would show how money, gifts, and properties were allegedly used to gain favour with the former minister.
The defence teams for the accused are expected to challenge the prosecution’s claims and argue that the benefits described were either lawful or unrelated to official duties.
The trial has attracted strong interest in Nigeria, where issues of corruption in the oil sector remain a major public concern. Many Nigerians see the case as another reminder of the long-standing challenges facing the management of the country’s natural resources.
Anti-corruption groups have repeatedly called for transparency and accountability in the oil industry, which they say has suffered decades of abuse by powerful individuals.
Meanwhile, supporters of Alison-Madueke maintain that she has not been convicted of any offence and is entitled to defend herself fully in court.
The Southwark Crown Court is expected to hear more evidence in the coming weeks, including details of financial records, property transactions, and communications between the accused and oil industry figures.
For now, Alison-Madueke remains innocent under the law until proven guilty, as the British court continues to examine the claims surrounding luxury properties, expensive gifts and alleged bribery linked to Nigeria’s oil sector.