Diezani stands trial in UK iver alleged bribery-funded luxury lifestyle

A former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court, pleading not guilty to five counts of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery.

Prosecutors alleged that between 2011 and 2015, individuals seeking lucrative oil and gas contracts provided her with a “life of luxury” in the United Kingdom.

This allegedly included over £2 million spent on her behalf at Harrods—where she was a personal shopper for Black Tier Rewards members—the use of multimillion-pound properties, a chauffeur-driven car, private jet travel, and £100,000 in cash.

The court heard that roughly £4.6 million was spent refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire linked to her.

The prosecution stated that payments for this lifestyle were made using payment cards linked to petroleum magnate Kolawole Aluko and the debit card of his company, Tenka Limited.

It was alleged that Alison-Madueke had exclusive use of a Buckinghamshire property owned by businessman Olajide Omokore, with Tenka covering about £300,000 in refurbishments and her six-week stay to write a book.

The company also allegedly paid roughly £500,000 in rent for two London flats used by her and her mother.

Alison-Madueke is being tried alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who faces two bribery counts, and her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, who is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery.

All three defendants have denied the charges.

The trial is expected to last approximately 12 weeks.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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