Ex-Nigerian oil minister denies taking bribes
Ex-Nigerian Oil Minister Denies Bribery Claims
A former Nigerian oil minister, accused of receiving high-end accommodations and extravagant expenses in the UK in exchange for securing state contracts, has rejected claims of soliciting or accepting bribes. Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, testified in Southwark Crown Court on Monday, asserting she “tried to push back on corruption” in a nation long associated with such practices since its colonial era.
Accusations and Reimbursements
Multiple Nigerian business figures are accused of funding extensive expenditures, including over £2 million at luxury store Harrods and £4.6 million on home renovations in London and Buckinghamshire. However, Alison-Madueke claimed the costs incurred during her official duties were fully reimbursed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). She also noted that a logistics firm was established in London to manage the arrangements, citing the company’s unstable financial structure.
“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,” Alison-Madueke said. “I always sought to act impartially.”
Testimony and Reimbursement
Alison-Madueke explained that the state-owned NNPC covered all expenses, including hotel stays, chauffeur services, and other conveniences. She emphasized that the arrangements were part of her role and later fully accounted for. During the trial, she revealed that her ex-husband’s hospitalization in 2011 necessitated a five-day stay at a Buckinghamshire residence, though she denied involvement in the planning of that visit.
Another property, reportedly used for meetings, was described as “discrete” and functional. She argued that a home in Gerrards Cross, which she and her family occupied during a longer stay, was “completely gutted” for renovations and not usable at the time. The court also heard that her mother and she resided in St John’s Wood for some time, with rent covered by businessman Kolawole Aluko, who is not on trial.
Background and Motivation
Alison-Madueke’s career at Shell was marked by rapid advancement, culminating in her becoming the first senior female executive in the company’s Nigerian operations. Despite this, she admitted the position was “uncomfortable” due to her father’s past conflicts with Shell. Her father, a tribal leader, had once filed legal action against the multinational firm for apartheid-like practices in the West African region.
She highlighted her father’s struggle with Shell’s environmental impact in the Niger Delta, where oil spills had caused significant harm. Alison-Madueke stated she questioned whether the company had adequately addressed the damage. “I didn’t believe they had done enough to make good on the devastation they caused,” she said.
Security Threats and OPEC Role
Alison-Madueke also mentioned facing imminent threats of abduction in Nigeria, where a “very patriarchal society” often targets women in leadership roles. She claimed her family members had been seized during this period. In 2015, she became the first woman to lead the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a group of oil-exporting nations that governs global crude oil supply.
Current Charges
The prosecution argues that Alison-Madueke benefited from multiple properties, including a £2.8 million home in Marylebone and residences near Regent’s Park. She denies five counts of accepting bribes and one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. Meanwhile, oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, faces one bribery charge and another for allegedly bribing a foreign public official. Her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, also denies involvement in the case.
