Diezani Alison-Madueke Denies Bribery Allegations in Court

Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, began her defense on October 30, 2023, at Southwark Crown Court in London, firmly denying allegations of bribery and abuse of office. She is accused of accepting financial advantages from oil businessmen, including Kola Aluko, Benedict Peter, Igho Sanomi, and Kevin Okyer, in exchange for favorable treatment in awarding oil contracts.

During her four-hour testimony, Alison-Madueke portrayed herself as a reform-minded minister who operated within the system and did not solicit or receive bribes. She acknowledged accepting gifts and logistical support as common practice in Nigeria but insisted these did not constitute corruption.

She also highlighted the weak financial controls within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and expressed concerns about missing official documents. Alison-Madueke, who was born in Port Harcourt in 1960 and became Shell's first Nigerian female executive director, claimed she was made a scapegoat amid political pressures ahead of the 2015 elections.