Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, has denied accepting bribes or abusing her position during her tenure from 2010 to 2015.
Testifying in her corruption trial at Southwark Crown Court, Alison-Madueke stated, “At no time did I ask, take, or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort, from any of these persons,” referring to individuals named in the charges.
Alison-Madueke, who has pleaded not guilty to five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, attributed her situation to being a woman in a patriarchal society.
She claimed Nigeria’s misogynistic culture and the administration’s desire for a scapegoat contributed to her predicament.
Prosecutors allege Alison-Madueke led a “life of luxury” in London, with high-end properties and luxury shopping sprees provided by individuals seeking her influence. She explained that President Goodluck Jonathan knew about her use of a Gerrards Cross property for discreet meetings and that accommodation arrangements through a company owned by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko were necessary due to NNPC’s London office financial disarray.
The trial highlights alleged corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector, a longstanding issue hindering the country’s economic development. Alison-Madueke’s defense team asserts she acted impartially and repaid expenses.
