Ex-Nigerian oil minister denies taking bribes
Ex-Nigerian Oil Minister Denies Bribery Claims
A former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, has rejected accusations that she solicited or accepted bribes in exchange for government contracts. During her testimony at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, she emphasized her efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria, a nation long associated with such practices since its colonial era.
Allegations and Reimbursements
The prosecution alleges that Alison-Madueke was provided with opulent accommodations and significant expenditures in the UK, including over £2 million at Harrods and £4.6 million on home renovations. However, she claimed that all costs incurred during her official duties were subsequently covered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), which she said reimbursed her expenses.
“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 asserted.
She further explained that a London-based service company was established to handle logistical arrangements, citing the NNPC’s financial instability as a reason. “They paid for all my hotels, chauffeurs… to allow me to perform the job that I did,” she said.
Property Use and Family Involvement
The court was informed that Alison-Madueke and her mother resided in two St John’s Wood apartments, with rental costs allegedly covered by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko. She argued that this arrangement was more cost-effective than paying for high-end hotel stays, such as those at the Savoy or Dorchester.
Regarding the properties in question, she stated that one overlooking Regent’s Park served as a venue for discreet meetings, while another was “completely gutted” and not functional during her visit. She also mentioned a five-day Christmas stay in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, which was due to her ex-husband’s hospitalization and not her own decision.
Professional Background and Security Concerns
Alison-Madueke highlighted her career at Shell, where she became the first senior female executive in the company’s Nigerian operations. Despite her reservations about Shell’s treatment of her father, a former employee and tribal leader, she joined the firm. “I found the job uncomfortable to put in mildly,” she said, citing her father’s legal battle against Shell for alleged apartheid practices in the Niger Delta.
“Nigeria is a very patriarchal society, so to have a woman sitting at the helm was a major no no,” she added, noting that she faced “dire threats of kidnap” and her family members were seized during her tenure.
Her career continued with a historic appointment in 2015 as the first female head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Alison-Madueke denies five counts of accepting bribes and one of conspiracy to commit bribery. Meanwhile, oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, faces charges of bribery and aiding a foreign public official. Her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, also denies involvement in the case.
