A London court has heard that more than £2 million was spent at luxury department store Harrods on behalf of a former Nigerian oil minister accused of accepting bribes from business figures seeking lucrative government contracts.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, is alleged to have been provided with what prosecutors described as “a life of luxury” in the United Kingdom. She denies five counts of accepting bribes and one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
At Southwark Crown Court, jurors were told that Alison-Madueke allegedly enjoyed access to multimillion-pound properties, a chauffeur-driven car, private jet travel and £100,000 in cash. The prosecution also said that £4.6 million was spent refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire for her use.
According to the court, more than £2 million was spent at Harrods using payment cards belonging to Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko and the debit card of his company, Tenka Limited. Alison-Madueke was said to have had her own personal shopper at the store — a service reserved for Harrods Rewards Black Tier members who must spend more than £10,000 annually.
Jurors also heard that Alison-Madueke lived in the UK for extended periods, where she was allegedly provided with domestic staff including a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner. The salaries and running costs were said to have been paid by owners of energy companies holding lucrative contracts with Nigeria’s state-owned oil firm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
“This case is about bribery in relation to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria during the period 2011 to 2015,” said Alexandra Healy KC, prosecuting. During that time those who were interested in the award and retention of lucrative oil and gas contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or its subsidiaries the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, provided significant financial or other advantages to Alison-Madueke.”
Healy acknowledged the unusual nature of the trial being heard in the UK but said corruption was a global concern. She said, “It might seem strange to be dealing here in the UK with a case that concerns bribery in relation to the Nigerian oil and gas industry. We live in a global society. Bribery and corruption undermine the proper functioning of the global market. There is an important public interest in ensuring that conduct in our country does not further corruption in another country.”
The court was shown images of a Buckinghamshire property known as The Falls in Gerrard’s Cross, purchased in 2010 by Nigerian businessman Olajide Omokore, owner of Atlantic Energy. Prosecutors said Alison-Madueke had exclusive use of the house from late 2011, staying there three or four times over two years and spending six weeks writing a book about Nigeria’s president. The property includes a private cinema room.
It was alleged that a chef and driver were assigned to her, with the driver referring to her as “HM” — short for honourable minister. Prosecutors said £300,000 worth of refurbishment and associated costs were paid for by Tenka Limited, a company said to have had interests in securing oil contracts from Nigerian state entities.
The court also heard that between May 2011 and January 2014, £500,000 in rent was paid for two flats in central London occupied by Alison-Madueke and her mother, with records allegedly showing Tenka Limited settled the bill.
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who faces one count of bribery relating to her and another count of bribery of a foreign public official. Her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, is also charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and is attending the proceedings via video link for medical reasons. Both men deny the charges against them.
The trial, expected to last around 12 weeks, continues as prosecutors outline allegations linked to Nigeria’s oil sector — a critical pillar of the country’s economy, yet one whose vast wealth has largely failed to translate into broad-based benefits for the population.
Melissa Enoch
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