Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has denied allegations that she received bribes or benefited from luxury spending in exchange for awarding government contracts.
She told Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom that she did not ask for, take or receive any bribe, insisting she acted impartially during her time in office.
“I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort,” she said, adding that she had “tried to push back on corruption.”
Prosecutors allege that several Nigerian businessmen funded lavish spending, including millions of pounds spent on luxury properties and high-end retail purchases in the UK.
However, Alison-Madueke said any expenses incurred during official duties were reimbursed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), adding that arrangements were made through a service company set up in London to manage logistics.
“They paid for all my hotels, chauffeurs… to allow me to perform the job that I did,” she told the court.
She also denied involvement in arrangements linked to properties in London and Buckinghamshire, including claims of luxury stays and renovations.
The court heard allegations that she and her family had access to high-value properties in areas such as Marylebone and Regent’s Park, and that millions were spent on refurbishments.
Alison-Madueke also told the court she was unaware of allegations that a chauffeur had delivered £100,000 in cash to her, saying the money had nothing to do with her.
The former minister, who previously rose to senior roles at Shell and later became the first female head of OPEC in 2015, denies five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
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