At Southwark Crown Court on February 2, 2026, the name Diezani Alison-Madueke resurfaced in an international courtroom. The former Nigerian petroleum minister and ex-OPEC president appeared alongside her brother, former Bishop Doye Agama, and Ayinde Olatimbo Bukola of Duchess Oil. All defendants have denied wrongdoing.
Proceedings highlighted luxury furniture purchases from the Vincenzo Cafferrella gallery. A gallery director testified that approximately £170,000 worth of bespoke chairs, tables, lamps, and other high-end items were bought within a 24-hour period.
The defence did not dispute the purchases or the amounts. The central issue before the court is the source of the funds and whether they are linked to alleged corruption tied to Nigeria’s oil sector. Prosecutors referenced financial trails examined across multiple jurisdictions.
Outside the court, the defendants’ arrival drew attention from observers. For many Nigerians following the case, the matter extends beyond furniture to broader questions of accountability over past management of oil revenues. The trial is set to continue in the coming days.
