Former Nigerian Oil Minister Diezani Denies Accepting Kickbacks

Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian petroleum minister, has vehemently denied taking bribes in exchange for government contracts, despite being accused of benefiting from corrupt proceeds in the UK.

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At Southwark Crown Court on Monday, the 65-year-old stated that she had made efforts to combat corruption, a pervasive issue in Nigeria since its days as a British colony, according to the BBC.

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Several Nigerian businessmen are alleged to have funded lavish spending sprees, including over £2m at Harrods and £4.6m on home refurbishments in London and Buckinghamshire.

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However, Alison-Madueke claimed that the costs incurred for her official duties were later reimbursed, and she asserted that she never abused her position or accepted bribes from anyone.

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She testified, "I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort from these persons and did not abuse my office," and added, "I always sought to act impartially."

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Alison-Madueke explained that the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, reimbursed the expenses incurred on her behalf, and a service company was established in London to manage the logistics due to the NNPC's disorganized financial structure.

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She noted that the company covered all her hotel and chauffeur expenses, allowing her to perform her duties, and she was not aware that one of her chauffeurs had delivered £100,000 in cash to her, which she claimed had no connection to her.

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Alison-Madueke's career progression at Shell was rapid, becoming the first senior female executive in its Nigerian operation, despite her initial reluctance to work for the company due to its treatment of her father, a former senior employee.

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She described her experience at Shell as "uncomfortable," citing her father's unsuccessful legal action against the company for alleged "apartheid practices" in West Africa.

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During her time at Shell, the company faced significant challenges in addressing oil spills in the Niger delta area, where her family was from, and she felt that the company had not done enough to rectify the devastation caused.

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Regarding concerns about her security, Alison-Madueke stated that Nigeria's patriarchal society made it difficult for a woman to hold a position of power, and she faced "dire threats of kidnap" and had family members seized.

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Alison-Madueke denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, while co-defendants Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, and her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, also face various bribery-related charges.

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The trial, which involves oil industry executive Ayinde denying one count of bribery and another count of bribing a foreign public official, is ongoing.