A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday denied allegations of receiving bribes while in office, insisting she acted with integrity throughout her tenure.
Testifying before the Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom, the 65-year-old ex-minister maintained that she neither solicited nor accepted illicit payments in exchange for awarding government contracts.
She told the court that she made conscious efforts to resist corrupt practices in the country, noting that she always sought to discharge her duties impartially.
Alison-Madueke is accused of benefiting from proceeds of corruption allegedly facilitated by Nigerian businessmen, who prosecutors claim funded lavish expenditures on her behalf, including millions of pounds spent on luxury shopping and property renovations in the UK.
However, the former minister argued that expenses incurred during official engagements were subsequently reimbursed through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
According to her, a logistics arrangement was put in place in London to manage official duties due to structural challenges within the national oil company at the time.
She told the court that the services provided, including accommodation and transportation, were meant to enable her perform her official responsibilities effectively.
Alison-Madueke also denied knowledge of an alleged £100,000 cash delivery reportedly made by a chauffeur, stating that such a transaction had no connection to her.
The court further heard details of her career progression at Shell, where she rose to become the first female executive in its Nigerian operations, despite initial reservations stemming from the company’s past dealings with her family.
She recounted concerns over environmental challenges in the Niger Delta during her time at the firm, expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of oil spills in the region.
Addressing security concerns, Alison-Madueke described Nigeria as a patriarchal society, noting that her position as a female public office holder exposed her to threats, including kidnapping attempts involving members of her family.
The former minister is facing five counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Also standing trial is oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who denied charges related to bribery and bribing a foreign public official, while Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, is contesting a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Proceedings in the case are ongoing.
0 Comments