Ex-Nigerian oil minister denies taking bribes
Former Nigerian Oil Minister Refutes Bribery Allegations
A retired Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, has rejected claims that she accepted bribes in exchange for awarding government contracts. During her testimony at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, she asserted that she never sought or received any form of kickbacks from individuals linked to the case. “I have always aimed to resist corruption,” she said, highlighting her efforts to combat graft in a nation with a long history of it, dating back to its colonial era.
Accusations of Lavish Spending
The prosecution alleges that Alison-Madueke was granted access to opulent residences and substantial expenditures in the UK. This included over £2 million spent at Harrods and £4.6 million allocated for home renovations in London and Buckinghamshire. She countered by stating that these costs were reimbursed by the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), with a London-based firm handling the logistical arrangements due to the NNPC’s financial instability.
“I can confirm that I never asked for, took, or accepted a bribe from anyone. My actions were always driven by impartiality,” Alison-Madueke declared.
Christmas Stay and Book Project
The court learned about a five-day stay in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, during Christmas 2011. She explained that her ex-husband required hospital care and could not return to Nigeria, necessitating the accommodation. She emphasized her lack of involvement in the arrangements. A second visit, lasting two weeks, was tied to a collaborative project with officials to pen a book honoring the Nigerian president’s support for women.
Alison-Madueke noted that one of the properties in question was used for discreet official meetings, while another, allegedly renovated for her, was described as “completely gutted” and unusable upon her inspection. She also mentioned staying in St John’s Wood with her mother, where rent was covered by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko, who is not on trial. She argued that this was more economical than booking high-end hotel suites at £2,000 per night.
Early Career and Family Ties
Alison-Madueke’s rise to prominence at Shell was marked by her becoming the first senior female executive in the company’s Nigerian operations. However, she admitted that her father had once worked for Shell and faced legal challenges over its environmental practices in the Niger Delta. “I found the job uncomfortable,” she said, recalling her father’s unsuccessful lawsuit against Shell for “apartheid-like treatment” in the region.
She further detailed how Shell struggled with oil spills during her tenure, which affected her family’s hometown. “They hadn’t done enough to address the damage they caused,” she stated, expressing her skepticism about the company’s efforts. The court also heard about her concerns for personal safety in Nigeria, a country she described as “patriarchal,” where she faced “dire threats of kidnap” and had family members detained.
Opec Leadership and Current Charges
In 2015, Alison-Madueke made history by becoming the first woman to lead the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a key body shaping global oil markets. Despite her achievements, she now faces five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiring to take them. Alongside her, oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, denies one bribery charge and another related to foreign officials. Her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, also refutes allegations in the case.
