British prosecutors on Wednesday told a London court that a former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, allegedly spent more than £2m, estimated at over N4bn, on luxury shopping at Harrods using funds linked to oil executives who benefited from major contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The prosecution alleged that executives whose companies secured lucrative oil and gas deals also financed the upkeep of Alison-Madueke’s residence in the United Kingdom, including the payment of domestic staff salaries.
Jurors at Southwark Crown Court were told that the expenses covered wages for a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner at the former minister’s UK property.
Prosecutors said the alleged benefits formed part of a broader pattern of inducements offered in exchange for favourable treatment in the award and retention of oil and gas contracts.
Alison-Madueke, a former president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is standing trial on five counts related to the alleged acceptance of bribes, including luxury items and access to high-value properties owned by oil industry figures. She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery.
The court heard that the former minister maintained a lavish lifestyle in the UK, including access to a personal shopper service at Harrods, which prosecutors said was reserved for elite customers who spend large sums annually.
According to the prosecution, more than £2m was spent at the luxury store on Alison-Madueke’s behalf, with several payments allegedly made using cards linked to oil magnate Kolawole Aluko and his company, Tenka Limited.
“She was provided with an exceptionally luxurious life in the United Kingdom,” the prosecutor told the court, alleging that Alison-Madueke enjoyed the use of multimillion-pound homes, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private jet travel and large sums of cash.
The court was also told that about £4.6m was allegedly spent on refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire connected to her use.
Aluko, a petroleum and aviation businessman named in the Panama Papers, was previously investigated over allegations that he helped move large sums of money out of Nigeria as kickbacks, while holding and seeking contracts with state-owned oil entities.
Prosecuting counsel, Alexandra Healy KC, told jurors that the case centred on alleged bribery in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector between 2011 and 2015, adding that there was a strong public interest in preventing corruption facilitated through the UK.
Jurors were shown images of a Buckinghamshire property known as The Falls, purchased by Nigerian businessman Olajide Omokore, owner of Atlantic Energy, which prosecutors said Alison-Madueke allegedly used exclusively from late 2011.
The court heard that she stayed at the property several times and spent weeks there, with renovation costs allegedly covered by Tenka Limited.
Prosecutors further alleged that between 2011 and 2014, about £500,000 was paid in rent for two central London apartments occupied by Alison-Madueke and her mother, with company records indicating that Tenka settled the bills.
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, while her brother, Doye Agama, is also charged with conspiracy to commit bribery. All defendants have denied the allegations.
The trial, expected to last about 12 weeks, continues.
