The legal case involving former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke dates back to 2015, when she was arrested in London as part of a sweeping corruption probe led by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). The investigation focused on allegations that, during her tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, she received bribes and financial benefits in exchange for awarding lucrative oil and gas contracts.
British authorities allege that she enjoyed what prosecutors described as “a life of luxury” funded by businessmen seeking government contracts. These alleged benefits reportedly included private jet travel, chauffeur-driven vehicles, high-end London property, luxury goods and school fees. Under the UK Bribery Act, the charges carry a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Alison-Madueke, who also made history as the first female president of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has consistently denied all allegations.
Court Hears Recorded Conversations
At Southwark Crown Court, jurors were played audio recordings allegedly taken from a Samsung phone seized during Alison-Madueke’s 2015 arrest. Prosecutors say the recordings capture conversations between the former minister and two Nigerian oil businessmen, Olajide Omokore and Kolawole Aluko, after their relationships had deteriorated.
The men are not on trial, but prosecutors allege they provided bribes during her time in office. In one of the recordings, Alison-Madueke, 65, is heard saying: “I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself.”
In another exchange, she told Omokore: “We who are managing the thing have kept quiet. We’ve kept quiet… while people like your wife are busy singing all over the place.” She added, “I do not react well to being blackmailed.”
A separate recording captured a discussion with Aluko, during which she criticised what she described as his “lavish, lascivious lifestyle” and public associations, including with British supermodel Naomi Campbell. “Naomi Campbell, these are not the people for you to be parading… Other men do these things, but they don’t parade them. They do them quietly because the time for parading these things was not now,” she said.
She further warned him about intelligence scrutiny, stating she had spoken to him about his “general behaviour, acquisition of assets, etc, asking you to be careful because intelligencer will start following you”.
Expressing anger over claims that information could be used against her, she said: “I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself. You will be shocked what I will do because when it comes to that, I will come out and tell the Nigerian people this is what happened. Oh yes, I will blame myself… but I will come out openly and say it so they can judge me openly. And then all of us go and sit on the gate. Let us see who survived, me or you.”
Aluko is heard responding: “I never ever mentioned your name or any other name.” He also told her he had stored materials in a safety deposit box containing “whatever I thought could save me, what could save me from jail,” describing himself as having “a million flaws” but being “loyal like a dog”.
Alison-Madueke denies five counts of accepting bribes and one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. Her defence team has argued that she neither requested nor received financial advantages from the businessmen, noting they have not been charged or extradited.
Virtual Proceedings And Latest Update
The trial, which began in January at Southwark Crown Court, is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks. Proceedings have included international cooperation under Nigeria’s Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2018.
In Abuja, Justice James Omotosho presided over virtual witness testimony requested by UK authorities. The matter, listed as “In the Matter of Application for the Taking of the Evidence of Witnesses in Nigeria Via Video Link for Use in Criminal Proceedings in Accordance with Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act,” saw four witnesses testify via video link before the UK judge, jury and defendants. The case was adjourned to allow two additional witnesses to give evidence.
Also standing trial are oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who denies bribery-related charges, and Alison-Madueke’s brother, former bishop Doye Agama, who denies conspiracy to commit bribery.
Alison-Madueke has been on bail in the UK since her arrest in October 2015. The high-profile case continues to draw attention in both Nigeria and Britain as proceedings move forward.
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