At Southwark Crown Court in London, the defence of former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke argued that she neither requested nor received bribes from oil industry figures. Her barrister told the court that money spent on UK properties and luxury items on her behalf was reimbursed in Nigeria.
According to the defence, others covered her living expenses because “Nigerian ministers are forbidden from having bank accounts abroad,” and those individuals were later repaid locally. The lawyer maintained that she gained no personal financial advantage from the arrangements.
Earlier in the week, the court heard allegations that she enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle in the UK, including access to multi-million-pound properties, a chauffeur-driven car, private jet travel, and more than £2 million in spending at Harrods.
She faces five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, all of which she denies. Her defence also pointed to what it described as a “gross delay” in bringing charges, arguing that this has disadvantaged her ability to present evidence. The trial is ongoing.
