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Former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke on Monday opened her defence in dramatic fashion at Southwark Crown Court, telling a London jury that she never abused her office and did not solicit or accept bribes, despite facing six counts under the UK Bribery Act.
Taking the witness stand for the first time, Alison-Madueke firmly rejected allegations that she received financial advantages from oil businessmen in exchange for favourable treatment, insisting that any benefits linked to her were either reimbursed or have been grossly misrepresented by investigators.
"I did not abuse my office at all. I did not ask, seek or solicit bribes," she said under questioning by her counsel, Jonathan Laidlaw KC, as reported by AllAfrica and other outlets. The BBC quoted her adding: "I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort from these persons and did not abuse my office."
Coverage comparison
Both AllAfrica and the BBC covered the opening day of testimony, but with slightly different emphasis. AllAfrica presented a detailed account of Alison-Madueke’s legal defence, including her characterisation of her ministerial role as "largely ceremonial" and a "rubber stamp." The BBC focused more on the specifics of the luxury spending alleged by prosecutors and the former minister’s background, including her election as the first female head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2015. Both sources reported female denials in detail, though the BBC also quoted her saying she "tried to push back on corruption in a country plagued since the days it was a British colony."
Key claims
- Denial of abuse of office and bribery: Alison-Madueke stated: "I did not ask, seek or solicit bribes" and that she acted impartially in all official dealings. — Multi-source, high confidence.
- Role as ceremonial minister: The former minister described her position as largely ceremonial, with decisions made by committees the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). She said that "the minister is like a rubber stamp," as per AllAfrica. — Single-source, high confidence.
- Admission of benefits but claim of reimbursement: Alison-Madueke admitted to using properties in London and accepting travel arrangements paid by associates, including private flights, but maintained that all such expenses were either reimbursed through official channels or handled as logistical support. She stated money spent on her behalf was reimbursed by the state-owned NNPC and that a service company had been set up in London to handle logistics because of the NNPC’s financial disorgan alone. — Single-source, high confidence.
- Denial of £100,000 cash delivery: Asked about a specific allegation this amounts, the former minister said she only learned of the claimed £100,000 cash delivery to her London residence during trial disclosures and denied any knowledge. — Multi-source, high confidence.
- Alleged lavish spending challenged: Prosecution allegation include treatment to luxury homes, staylances Christmas in a house in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, and spending's such as more than £2 million at Harrods and £4.6 million on home refurbishment. Alison-Madueke argued these were either related to official duties and reimbursed. — Single-source, medium confidence.
- Pushing back on corruption: Alison-Madueke said she tried to fight corruption in Nigeria, which she described as being prevalent since the colonial era. — Single-source, medium confidence.
Perspective
From the witness stand, Alison-Madueke offered a narrative that she was a figurehead without real control over contracts, that she accepted services for official travel that were later reimbursed, and that investigators misrepresented the nature of hospitality from associates, which she argued is common practice in Nigeria’s political system. The prosecution, by contrast, brought forward testimonies about luxurious homes and lavish spending intended to secure her influence in awarding oil contracts. The verdict awaits the jury’s deliberation after the defense’s evidence closes.