A landmark corruption trial unfolding at London’s Southwark Crown Court has exposed extensive bribery allegations against Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke. The 65-year-old official, who held one of Nigeria’s most powerful ministerial positions from 2010 to 2015, stands accused of accepting lavish bribes from energy executives seeking lucrative government contracts.
Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC presented evidence alleging that Alison-Madueke received a comprehensive package of corrupt benefits valued at millions of pounds. These included exclusive access to luxury London properties, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet travel, and approximately £100,000 in cash payments. The court heard that energy company executives allegedly funded £4.6 million in property renovations, high-end shopping sprees at Harrods, and full domestic staff including housekeepers, nannies, and gardeners.
The prosecution contends that these benefits were systematically provided by contractors seeking favorable treatment from the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries. Healy emphasized the global significance of the case, noting that while the bribes concerned Nigerian oil contracts, the luxury lifestyle they funded occurred primarily in the United Kingdom.
Alison-Madueke has pleaded not guilty to five counts of bribery acceptance and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. She appears alongside two co-defendants: oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, facing separate bribery charges, and her brother Doye Agama, a former archbishop charged with conspiracy. Both co-defendants also deny the allegations.
The trial, expected to continue for approximately twelve weeks, highlights the persistent issue of corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector—Africa’s largest petroleum industry. Despite Nigeria’s membership in OPEC and its substantial oil wealth, the case underscores how systemic corruption has prevented broader population from benefiting from the nation’s natural resource wealth.