Prosecutors at Southwark Crown Court on Monday detailed allegations of lavish spending by Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-OPEC President, Diezani Alison-Madueke, telling the court that she spent about £170,000 approximately ₦325 million on luxury furniture and lighting in a single day.
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside her brother, Doye Agama, a former bishop, and Ayinde Olatimbo Bukola, an executive of Duchess Oil. All three defendants have denied the charges against them.
During proceedings, the court heard testimony from Monica, a director at the high-end Vincenzo Cafferrella furniture gallery, who described multiple purchases allegedly made by Alison-Madueke. Prosecutor Sarah Leary outlined transactions involving chairs, tables, lamps and other luxury items, saying the one-day expenditure was followed by further high-value purchases over a short period.
While the defence did not dispute the existence or value of the items listed, it maintained that the source of the funds and the intent behind the spending would be addressed as the trial progresses.
The hearing also drew public attention outside the courtroom, as the arrival of the defendants and their family members was closely observed by media and onlookers. Observers described a carefully choreographed atmosphere as they entered the court.
Prosecutors allege that the spending formed part of a wider pattern of misconduct linked to Nigeria’s oil sector, an allegation the defence strongly contests. The court was reminded that all defendants deny any wrongdoing.
Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting “financial or other advantages” from individuals connected to Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups, companies that allegedly secured contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), now known as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), or its subsidiaries.
The prosecution further alleged that the former minister received £100,000 in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights to Nigeria, refurbishment work and staff costs for London properties. Other counts include allegations of school fees paid for her son, luxury goods purchased from brands such as Harrods and Louis Vuitton, and additional private jet travel.
Alison-Madueke, who served as OPEC president from 2014 to 2015, has faced multiple legal actions across jurisdictions, including in the United States. She has been on bail in the United Kingdom since her arrest in October 2015 and was formally charged in 2023 with bribery offences, which she denies.
Her co-defendants, Agama and Bukola, are also facing bribery charges. Prosecutors told the court that all three had British addresses at the time the alleged offences were committed.
The trial continues this week, with more witnesses expected to testify.