A UK court has heard allegations that Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, spent more than £2 million on luxury goods at Harrods alone, with purchases so extensive that storage space reportedly became an issue.
Ms Alison-Madueke, now 65, is accused of maintaining an extravagant lifestyle in the United Kingdom, allegedly funded by senior figures within the energy sector who were seeking government contracts in Nigeria. The prosecution claims that properties used by her in the UK were paid for and refurbished by these individuals.
Properties, Cash, and Personal Services
According to prosecutors, between 2010 and 2015—during her tenure as petroleum minister—Ms Alison-Madueke allegedly received:
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£100,000 in cash
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Access to a private jet and a chauffeur-driven vehicle
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Full-time domestic support during UK visits, including:
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A housekeeper
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A nanny
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A gardener
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A window cleaner
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The court was told that she stayed in several high-value properties, including:
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A large residence in Buckinghamshire
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A £2.8 million home in Marylebone, central London
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Multiple multimillion-pound homes overlooking Regent’s Park
Prosecutors further allege that renovations to these properties, carried out for her benefit, were worth approximately £4.6 million.
Luxury Shopping Allegations
Those accused of bribing Ms Alison-Madueke are also said to have financed extensive shopping at elite retailers, including:
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Over £2 million spent at Harrods
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£370,740 at Marylebone antiques dealer Vincenzo Caffarella
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£117,224.33 at Mayfair retailer Thomas Goode, which specialises in fine china, silverware, and glass
Ms Alison-Madueke denies five counts of accepting bribes as well as a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Co-Defendants and Denials
Other defendants in the case include:
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Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, a Nigerian oil company owner, who denies two bribery charges
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Doye Agama, 69, Ms Alison-Madueke’s brother and a former archbishop, who denies conspiracy to commit bribery
Evidence Presented to the Jury
Addressing jurors at Southwark Crown Court, prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC described Ms Alison-Madueke’s visits to Thomas Goode from February 2011 onward as highly noticeable due to the size of her entourage.
A store employee, Jon Taverner, recalled shopping visits that lasted several hours. On one occasion, the court heard, Ms Alison-Madueke worked at a desk inside the shop before resuming her purchases. She was described as having a strong interest in sales and discounted items.
Mr Taverner also recalled her remarking that she did not know why she was buying certain items, as she had no remaining space for them.
Jurors were told that Ms Alison-Madueke did not personally pay for any items purchased at the Mayfair store. These included:
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A marble console table
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A Georgian-style sideboard
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A French writing desk
One item alone cost £19,533. Several of these goods were later identified by Mr Taverner among items recovered by the National Crime Agency from a storage unit alleged to be linked to Ms Alison-Madueke.
Alleged Bribery Linked to Oil Contracts
While in office, Ms Alison-Madueke oversaw the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, including the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company.
Prosecutors allege that she accepted bribes from five men with senior roles in oil companies seeking access to government contracts.
One of them, Kolawole Aluko, is accused of funding what prosecutors described as “excessive and extravagant” spending, including the Harrods purchases. Jurors heard that in 2013 he paid for luxury bathroom fittings costing more than £38,000 at West One Bathrooms, intended for a master bathroom and guest cloakroom. The items were never collected.
Recorded Conversations and Further Claims
In 2014, prosecutors say Ms Alison-Madueke became concerned that Mr Aluko had discussed their alleged arrangement. Jurors were shown extracts from recorded conversations in which she suggested she would publicly acknowledge the situation if necessary.
In one exchange, she disputed claims that $80 million had been spent on her, stating instead that furniture provided amounted to no more than $4 million.
The prosecution argued that these conversations point to tension over whether gifts had been disclosed to others.
Additional Allegations
The trial is also expected to examine claims that £1 million was paid to a church associated with Mr Agama, allegedly as part of efforts to influence Ms Alison-Madueke.
The proceedings are ongoing.
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