Diezani Alison-Madueke bribery trial resumes in London over £140,000 luxury spending while denying corruption charges

Proceedings resumed yesterday at Southwark Crown Court in London in the bribery and corruption trial of former Nigerian Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

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The trial centres on allegations that the ex-minister spent as much as £140,000 in a single day on luxury furniture, bespoke lighting, and decorative art purchased via intermediaries during her time in office.

Prosecutors told the court that Alison-Madueke allegedly received cash and luxury benefits in exchange for influence over energy contracts while overseeing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector between 2011 and 2015.

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA), responsible for serious and organised crime, claims the payments were received in Britain.

The public gallery was filled with supporters from the Ijaw community, who had flown in specifically for the trial. Despite the evidence presented, Alison-Madueke, the first female president of OPEC, denies all charges, maintaining she did not accept bribes.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw argued that a significant amount of exculpatory material had been withheld, citing “gross delay in the bringing of these charges” as impacting her ability to respond.

The 65-year-old former minister sat in the dock, taking notes during the proceedings.

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Prosecutors emphasised that Alison-Madueke enjoyed a lavish lifestyle funded by parties seeking lucrative contracts with Nigeria’s state-owned petroleum corporation, highlighting the case’s wider implications for transparency and accountability in the global energy sector.