Diezani Alison denies bribery in London trial as defense begins

Diezani Alison-Madueke has denied all allegations of bribery and corruption as her high-profile trial continues in London, marking a critical turn as the defence begins its case.

Speaking before jurors at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, the former petroleum minister insisted she never used her position to solicit or accept bribes during her time in office between 2010 and 2015 under Goodluck Jonathan.

“At no time did I ask, take, or seek a bribe of any sort,” she told the court, maintaining that her actions while in office were guided by impartiality.

Alison-Madueke is facing multiple charges, including counts of accepting bribes and conspiracy to commit bribery, all of which she has pleaded not guilty to.

The case, being heard in the United Kingdom, is one of the most closely watched corruption trials involving a former Nigerian public official in recent years.

Luxury lifestyle claims and gender defence shape courtroom battle

Prosecutors allege that Alison-Madueke benefited from a network of associates who provided her with luxury accommodation, high-end shopping trips, and other perks in exchange for influence over oil contract decisions.

They claim her lifestyle in London reflected improper financial benefits tied to her role overseeing Nigeria’s oil sector.

But pushing back, Alison-Madueke told the court that some of the arrangements cited by prosecutors were legitimate and known to top government officials at the time.

She said, for instance, that the use of a property in Gerrards Cross for meetings was not hidden, adding that then-President Jonathan was aware of it.

She also addressed claims about her stay in a central London apartment linked to businessman Kolawole Aluko, explaining that the arrangement was made to manage operational gaps within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) London office.

According to her, all related expenses were eventually repaid in Nigeria.

Beyond the financial allegations, Alison-Madueke framed part of her defence around systemic bias, arguing that her position as a woman in a powerful role made her a target.

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She described Nigeria’s political environment as patriarchal and suggested she had been positioned as a scapegoat.

As proceedings continue, the trial is expected to further probe the intersection of political power, oil wealth, and accountability, long-standing issues in Nigeria’s economic history.