Diezani Alison-Madueke is on trial in London for allegedly accepting bribes and spending £140,000 on luxury items in a single day.
British prosecutors have accused Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, of spending £140,000 on luxury furniture and decorative art in a single day. The ex-minister is facing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, on a five-count charge relating to accepting bribes. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.
According to Channels Television, the trial continued on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London, where prosecutors presented evidence detailing how Alison-Madueke allegedly purchased high-end furniture, bespoke lighting, and decorative art through intermediaries. The extravagant spending was highlighted as part of a broader pattern of benefiting from luxury gifts provided by figures seeking oil contracts in Nigeria.
The court gallery was reportedly filled with supporters from the Ijaw community in Nigeria who traveled to London to witness the proceedings. Alexandra Healy, a prosecutor, told jurors that the former minister “enjoyed a life of luxury in London”, facilitated by individuals interested in Nigeria’s oil sector.