Former Petroleum Minister Rejects Corruption Claims in London Court

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has denied corruption allegations while testifying in a court in the United Kingdom.

She appeared before the Southwark Crown Court on Monday, where the 65-year-old firmly stated that she neither solicited nor received any bribe during her time in office. She told the court, “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,” adding, “I always sought to act impartially.”
However, prosecutors alleged that she benefited from large sums of money reportedly provided by Nigerian businessmen. According to the claims, more than £2 million was spent on shopping at Harrods, while approximately £4.6 million was used to renovate properties in London and Buckinghamshire.
Prosecutors further claimed she had access to several high-value properties, including a £2.8 million home in Marylebone and other luxury residences. In response, Alison-Madueke explained that expenses related to official duties were later reimbursed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company. She noted that a London-based service company managed such payments due to what she described as a complex financial system.
“They paid for all my hotels, chauffeurs… to allow me to perform the job that I did,” she said.
The court also heard that she spent five days during Christmas in 2011 at a property in Gerrards Cross with her extended family, noting that she did not personally arrange the visit. She added that during another stay lasting over two weeks, she worked with officials to produce a book showcasing the Nigerian president’s support for women. “I took it upon myself to put together that book to showcase what he did for women,” she said.
Addressing other allegations, she explained that one of the properties mentioned was used for “discrete” official meetings, while another cited by prosecutors was undergoing heavy renovation and was not habitable at the time.
The court further heard that she and her mother stayed in apartments in St John’s Wood, with rent allegedly paid by businessman Kolawole Aluko. Alison-Madueke defended this arrangement, saying it was more cost-effective than staying in hotels such as the Savoy and Dorchester, where rooms could cost up to £2,000 per night.
She also denied any connection to a reported £100,000 cash delivery allegedly made by one of her drivers, insisting the money was unrelated to her.
Reflecting on her career, she recounted her rise through the ranks at Shell, becoming its first senior female executive in Nigeria. She also criticised the company for insufficient action in addressing oil spills in the Niger Delta, stating that stronger efforts should have been made to repair environmental damage.
On personal safety, she described Nigeria as a “very patriarchal society,” noting that “a woman sitting at the helm was a major no-no.” She added that she faced serious kidnapping threats and that some of her family members had been abducted.
In total, she denied five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Also standing trial is oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who denied charges of bribery and bribing a foreign public official. Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, a former archbishop, also denied a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
The case remains ongoing.