Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has told a Southwark Crown Court in London that she was prepared to go to jail alongside others implicated in major oil sector allegations, as she continues to mount a detailed defence in her ongoing corruption trial.
The testimony formed part of proceedings on the 20th day of the trial, where she faces multiple allegations connected to her time in office, including claims of money laundering, bribery, and the acquisition of high-value properties in the United Kingdom. The prosecution alleges that illicit financial flows from Nigeria’s oil sector were used to fund luxury real estate purchases abroad, claims she has consistently denied.
During the latest hearing, the former minister addressed a juror’s question relating to recorded conversations involving Nigerian oil trader Kola Aluko. She explained that her statement about being willing to go to prison was made in the context of accountability for decisions taken during her tenure, insisting that as minister she bore ultimate responsibility for actions within the petroleum sector.
She told the court that her comments were not an admission of guilt but rather an expression of willingness to accept consequences if wrongdoing was established. She also maintained that she acted within her official duties in engaging with key industry stakeholders during her time in office.
A significant portion of the hearing focused on allegations that she benefited from luxury properties in the United Kingdom. Alison-Madueke firmly denied owning or having any beneficial interest in the properties, stating that they were linked to business associates involved in oil trading activities. She told the court that she only visited some of the properties in a professional or social capacity and never resided in them as private assets.
She further argued that the properties were sometimes used as corporate guest houses for meetings and official discussions, rather than private residences belonging to her. The prosecution, however, maintains that the properties were acquired as part of a scheme to conceal proceeds of corruption, a claim the defence continues to reject.
The former minister also addressed her interactions with oil traders, including Kola Aluko and Igho Sanomi, both of whom have featured prominently in allegations relating to Nigeria’s controversial oil contracts and financial transactions during her tenure. She distanced herself from claims of personal enrichment, stating that certain business dealings were conducted at lower levels within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and did not always require ministerial approval.
Alison-Madueke told the court she initially understood that a disputed financial exposure in the oil sector was around 200 million dollars, only to later learn that it had risen to approximately 1.3 billion dollars. She said she believed such matters should have been addressed internally within the NNPC before escalating to ministerial attention.
She also disclosed that she had sought presidential approval during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan to remove the then Group Managing Director of the NNPC, citing concerns over management of the issue. According to her testimony, the leadership of the corporation had claimed ignorance of the financial discrepancies.
In a further attempt to explain her actions in office, she referenced efforts to reduce excessive government expenditure during official travel. She told the court that she had raised concerns about high hotel costs incurred by officials in London and advocated for the use of rented apartments as a cost-saving measure, a policy that was later adopted despite initial resistance.
The trial also heard personal testimony from the former minister regarding her health. Alison-Madueke said she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2015 and underwent extensive treatment, including chemotherapy and surgery. She stated that her illness significantly affected her ability to function at the time and contributed to her departure from Nigeria shortly before the end of the administration.
She was later arrested in London after completing her medical treatment, a development that marked the beginning of her prolonged legal battles in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions.
Throughout her testimony, she repeatedly denied allegations of owning luxury properties in the UK or engaging in illicit financial activity. She insisted that she did not derive personal benefit from oil contracts or transactions and maintained that all crude oil belonged to the Nigerian state, not to individuals involved in its administration.
The court also heard arguments relating to documentary evidence and witness arrangements. In a notable procedural development, the judge approved a request by the defence for certain witnesses based in Nigeria to testify remotely, a decision that surprised the prosecution and is expected to shape the next phase of the trial.
Further legal applications, including a Section 8 application and a hearsay submission, are expected to be addressed as proceedings continue in what remains one of the most closely watched corruption trials involving a former senior Nigerian official in a foreign court.
The case continues to draw significant attention due to its implications for international anti-corruption enforcement, cross-border financial investigations, and the scrutiny of Nigeria’s oil sector governance during the years in question.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments