Ex-Nigerian oil minister denies taking bribes

Ex-Nigerian Oil Minister Denies Corruption Allegations

Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian oil minister, has refuted claims that she accepted bribes in exchange for securing government contracts. In a statement to Southwark Crown Court, she asserted that the expenses incurred during her time in the UK were covered by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and later reimbursed. The prosecution alleges that she was provided with extravagant accommodations and spending opportunities, including a £2.8 million residence in Marylebone and multi-million-pound homes near Regent’s Park.

Accusations and Defense

The case centers on accusations that Alison-Madueke benefited from renovations costing £4.6 million, while also enjoying luxury stays and generous expenditures. She clarified that these costs were not personal gains, but rather necessary for her official duties. “I have always aimed to act impartially,” she stated, emphasizing her efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria, a nation with a long history of such practices.

“At no point did I ask for, take, or receive a bribe of any sort from these individuals,” Alison-Madueke said, adding that she did not misuse her position.

According to her, a London-based service firm was established to manage logistical needs, as the NNPC’s financial systems were reportedly disorganized. She described the arrangement as a way to ensure efficiency during her tenure. However, the prosecution maintains that the assets were provided as part of a corrupt scheme, with specific details including a five-day stay in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, during Christmas 2011, linked to her ex-husband’s hospitalization.

Book Writing and Official Use

Alison-Madueke recounted a two-week visit to another property, where she and up to 12 officials collaborated on a book celebrating the Nigerian president’s support for women. “I took the initiative to compile that work to highlight his contributions,” she said. She also claimed that a Regent’s Park property, which she is accused of using, was left in disrepair and unsuitable for occupation.

Additionally, the court was informed that Alison-Madueke and her mother stayed in two apartments in St John’s Wood, with rent funded by businessman Kolawole Aluko. She argued this was more cost-effective than paying for high-end hotel suites, which could cost £2,000 per night.

Personal and Professional Background

Alison-Madueke’s career at Shell, where she rose to become the first senior female executive in the country, was marked by both achievement and personal conflict. Despite her rise, she expressed discomfort with Shell’s treatment of her father, a former employee and tribal leader who had once sued the company for alleged apartheid-like practices in the Niger Delta. She criticized Shell’s handling of oil spills in the region, claiming it had not adequately addressed the environmental damage.

“I found the job uncomfortable,” she admitted, noting her father’s legal battle against Shell for its actions in West Africa.

Security threats also feature in her testimony. Alison-Madueke described Nigeria as a “patriarchal society” where a woman in a leadership role faced significant risks, including “dire threats of kidnap” and the detention of her family members.

Global Role and Trial Details

In 2015, Alison-Madueke became the first female head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a position she defended as a reflection of her dedication to the sector. She now faces five counts of accepting bribes and one of conspiring to do so. Meanwhile, oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde is also on trial, denying one bribery charge and another involving foreign officials.

Her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, has similarly denied charges in the case, though the details of his involvement remain under investigation.