By Robert Harvey and Sam Tobin LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's former oil minister, told jurors on Monday she did not abuse her position to seek or take bribes, as she
Nigerian Ex-Oil Minister Rejects Bribery Claims at London Corruption Trial
Diezani Alison-Madueke's Testimony and Corruption Charges
By Robert Harvey and Sam Tobin
Alison-Madueke's Denial of Bribery Allegations
LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's former oil minister, told jurors on Monday she did not abuse her position to seek or take bribes, as she stands trial on corruption charges in London.
Background on Alison-Madueke's Role and Charges
Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-President Goodluck Jonathan, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Minister's Statement to the Court
"At no time did I ask, take, or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort, from any of these persons," Alison-Madueke said, referring to people named in the charges, adding that she "always sought to act impartially" in her post.
Prosecution's Claims of Luxury and Influence
Prosecutors say Alison-Madueke led a "life of luxury https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerias-ex-oil-minister-alison-madueke-stands-trial-uk-bribery-charges-2026-01-27/" in London, which included being given high-end properties to stay in and taken on luxury shopping sprees by people who "clearly believed she would use her influence to favour them."
Use of Properties and Presidential Knowledge
Alison-Madueke told jurors that the President knew of her using one of the properties, a high-end location in Gerrards Cross, west of London, for discreet meetings.
Challenges Faced as a Female Minister
Alison-Madueke said that being a woman in such an important role made her a target, describing Nigeria as patriarchal and misogynistic, and that she was told she would be made a scapegoat of the administration.
Accommodation Arrangements and Financial Structures
She also said she organised accommodation at a central London apartment through a company owned by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko because the financial structures of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)'s London office were "in a mess," and that all expenses were repaid in Nigeria.
Wider Context: Corruption in Nigeria
Her trial is one of the most high-profile cases relating to alleged corruption in oil-rich Nigeria, which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption preventing its mineral wealth from benefiting the wider population.
(Reporting by Robert Harvey and Sam Tobin in London, Editing by William Maclean)
