A London court has heard that over £2m was spent at Harrods on behalf of former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is facing bribery charges she strongly denies
£2m Harrods Spree: UK Court Hears How Ex-Nigeria Oil Minister Allegedly Lived Lavishly on Bribes
A London court has heard how more than £2 million was allegedly spent at Harrods on behalf of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, as part of an alleged bribery scheme involving oil and gas contracts.
Prosecutors told Southwark Crown Court that Alison-Madueke, 65, was allegedly provided with “a life of luxury in the United Kingdom”, including access to multi-million-pound properties, a chauffeur-driven car, private jet travel, and £100,000 in cash.
The former minister, who served between 2010 and 2015 under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has denied five counts of accepting bribes and one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Jurors were told that in addition to the Harrods spending, £4.6 million was allegedly used to refurbish properties in London and Buckinghamshire connected to Alison-Madueke.
The court heard that the Harrods purchases were made using payment cards belonging to Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko and the debit card of his company, Tenka Limited.
Prosecutors further revealed that Alison-Madueke reportedly had access to a personal shopper at the luxury department store — a service available only to Harrods Rewards Black Tier members, who must spend at least £10,000 annually.
According to the prosecution, Alison-Madueke spent extended periods in the United Kingdom where she was allegedly provided with domestic staff, including a housekeeper, nanny, gardener, and window cleaner.
The court was told that the salaries and upkeep costs for these services were allegedly paid by owners of energy companies holding lucrative contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries.
Addressing the jury, Alexandra Healy KC, leading the prosecution, said, “This case is about bribery in relation to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria during the period 2011 to 2015.”
She added that individuals seeking to secure or retain contracts with NNPC and its subsidiaries — including the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company — allegedly provided “significant financial or other advantages” to Alison-Madueke.
Acknowledging the international nature of the case, Healy said, “It might seem strange to be dealing here in the UK with a case that concerns bribery in relation to the Nigerian oil and gas industry. We live in a global society. Bribery and corruption undermine the proper functioning of the global market.”
She further stressed, “There is an important public interest in ensuring that conduct in our country does not further corruption in another country.”
The high-profile trial continues in London, drawing international attention as one of the most significant corruption cases linked to Nigeria’s oil sector in recent years.
Alison-Madueke maintains her innocence, and the court is expected to hear further evidence in the coming weeks. Read More
