Trending Now - Former Nigerian Oil Minister Refutes Bribery Allegations in Trial
WHO:
AP News - Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, former Nigerian oil minister
AP News - Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, owner of Nigerian oil companies
AP News - Doye Agama, 69, former archbishop and brother of Alison-Madueke
WHAT:
AP News - Alison-Madueke is accused of benefiting from access to multimillion-pound U.K. homes that were paid for and refurnished by energy firms seeking government contracts in Nigeria.
AP News - Alison-Madueke stated, “I can state categorically at no time did I ask for, take or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort from any of these persons.”
AP News - Nigeria’s anti-graft agency previously secured court orders seizing houses, cars, and jewelry in Nigeria said to be proceeds of corruption connected to Alison-Madueke and her associates.
AP News - Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting bribes in exchange for government contracts.
AP News - She denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
AP News - Prosecutors allege she benefited from £2 million ($2.7 million) spent at Harrods and received £100,000 ($135,000) in cash.
AP News - Alison-Madueke stated, “I did not abuse my office during that period.”
WHERE:
AP News - The trial is taking place at Southwark Crown Court in London.
AP News - Properties involved are located in the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
WHEN:
AP News - Alison-Madueke served as Nigeria's minister of petroleum resources from April 2010 to May 2015.
AP News - The trial began on April 10th, 2026.
WHY:
AP News - The allegations stem from claims that Alison-Madueke received benefits from energy firms seeking government contracts in Nigeria.
HOW:
AP News - Alison-Madueke had oversight of the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. and its subsidiaries, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Co. and the Pipelines Product Marketing Co.
AP News - Alison-Madueke claims that logistics and financial dealings for her work trips were handled by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. and were reimbursed.
(UPDATED April 14, 2026 13:24 UTC)
Alison-Madueke is facing accusations of benefiting from access to multimillion-pound homes in the U.K. that were allegedly paid for and refurnished by energy firms seeking government contracts in Nigeria. In response to these allegations, she firmly stated, “I can state categorically at no time did I ask for, take or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort from any of these persons.” Nigeria’s anti-graft agency has previously obtained court orders to seize properties, vehicles, and jewelry believed to be proceeds of corruption linked to Alison-Madueke and her associates, who were under her oversight while she led the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. and its subsidiaries.
--
(UPDATED April 14, 2026 09:22 UTC)
Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian oil minister, is currently on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, facing accusations of accepting bribes in exchange for government contracts during her tenure from April 20th10 to May 20th15. Prosecutors allege she benefited from approximately £2 million spent at Harrods and received £100,000 in cash, while Alison-Madueke denies the charges and asserts that she did not abuse her office. She claims that the logistics and financial dealings for her work trips were managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and reimbursed accordingly.