UK court hears claims of extravagant London spending in Diezani bribery trial

British prosecutors have told a London court that Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, spent £140,000 on luxury furniture and decorative art in a single day.

Alison-Madueke is standing trial at the Southwark Crown Court alongside Olatimbo Ayinde, an oil executive, and Doye Agama, her brother, on five counts bordering on accepting bribes. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court was informed that the trial continued on Monday, with prosecutors presenting evidence of what they described as extravagant purchases made by the former minister at an antiques store in London.

According to the prosecution, Alison-Madueke bought high-end furniture, bespoke lighting and decorative artworks, with the payments allegedly made through intermediaries.

Reports from the court indicated that the public gallery was filled with supporters from Nigeria’s Ijaw community, many of whom travelled to London to observe the proceedings.

At an earlier hearing on January 27, prosecutors alleged that Alison-Madueke received bribes in the form of luxury items and access to high-value properties from individuals connected to the oil industry.

Alexandra Healy, a prosecutor, told the jury that the former minister “enjoyed a life of luxury in London”, which she said was funded by figures seeking oil contracts in Nigeria.

However, Alison-Madueke’s defence team has disputed the allegations. On January 29, her counsel, Jonathan Laidlaw, told the court that she wielded no real authority over the award of oil contracts during her time in office, describing her role as that of a “rubber stamp” for official recommendations.