Ex-Nigerian oil minister denies taking bribes
Ex-Nigerian Oil Minister Denies Bribery Claims
A retired Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, has refuted allegations that she accepted bribes in exchange for securing government contracts. During her testimony at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, she emphasized her efforts to combat corruption in a nation where such practices have long been prevalent since its colonial era.
Accusations of Lavish Spending
Prosecutors claim Alison-Madueke was provided with luxury accommodations and extravagant expenditures in the UK, including over £2 million spent at Harrods and £4.6 million allocated for home renovations in London and Buckinghamshire. However, the ex-minister argued that these costs were later covered by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), with a London-based firm managing the logistics due to the company’s financial instability.
“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 declared in court. “I always sought to act impartially.”
Disputing the Use of Properties
She further contested claims that the properties were used for corrupt purposes, stating that one house in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, was rented for her ex-husband’s hospitalization during Christmas 2011. Alison-Madueke insisted she had no role in arranging the stay. A second property, she said, was used for a two-week trip where she and up to 12 officials collaborated on a book celebrating the Nigerian president’s support for women.
Regarding the alleged £100,000 cash handover to a chauffeur, Alison-Madueke claimed she was unaware of the transaction, asserting it had no connection to her duties. The court also learned that she and her mother resided in St John’s Wood apartments, funded by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko, who is not on trial. She argued this arrangement was more economical than paying for high-end hotel suites.
Professional Background and Security Concerns
Alison-Madueke highlighted her rise within Shell, becoming the first senior female executive in its Nigerian operations. Despite her initial reservations about the company due to its handling of oil spills in the Niger Delta—where her father, a tribal leader, had previously fought legal battles against Shell for practices resembling apartheid—she joined the firm.
She criticized Shell for not adequately addressing environmental damage, stating, “I didn’t believe the company had done enough to make good on the devastation that they had caused.” Additionally, she noted that Nigeria’s patriarchal society posed a threat to her leadership, with her family members reportedly kidnapped and her own security under constant risk.
Legal Proceedings and Other Defendants
In 2015, Alison-Madueke was elected the first female head of OPEC, a role she maintains was earned through her integrity. She now faces five counts of accepting bribes and one of conspiracy to bribe. Meanwhile, oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, is charged with bribery and another count of bribing a foreign public official. Her brother, former Archbishop Doye Agama, 69, also denies culpability in the case.
