Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is awaiting a verdict after jurors at Southwark Crown Court in London began deliberations in her ongoing bribery trial.
The case, which has drawn significant international attention, relates to allegations connected to her tenure as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015.
Prosecutors told the court that Alison-Madueke is facing five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. She has consistently denied all the charges against her.
The prosecution alleged that while in office, she received benefits from individuals in the oil and gas sector who were allegedly seeking preferential access to lucrative contracts.
The court also heard claims that she was provided with luxury accommodation in London and treated to expensive shopping trips financed by business interests.
Her legal team, however, rejected the allegations, insisting that she did not act independently in the decision-making processes linked to the contracts in question and maintained that approvals were based on official recommendations within the system.
During her testimony last month, Alison-Madueke firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating: “At no time did I ask, take, or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort.”
She is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who also faces bribery-related charges, and her brother, Doye Agama, who is accused of conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with a separate church-related allegation.
All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The trial, which began in January, has now reached its final stage, with jurors having retired to consider their verdicts on the charges against all three defendants.
