Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has denied ever soliciting or accept bribes.
Dizeani made this known on Monday when she appeared before the stand at Southwark Crown Court lto offer a defense against six counts of bribery.
Facing the London jury, she denied ever soliciting or accepting financial incentives from oil magnates in exchange for political favors, asserting that she never exploited her position of power during her tenure.
Throughout her testimony, Alison-Madueke characterized her former role as largely ceremonial, suggesting she acted merely as a rubber stamp for decisions already finalized by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and various technical committees.
While she acknowledged utilizing London properties and accepting private travel arrangements funded by associates, she maintained that these costs were either officially reimbursed or constituted logistical support rather than illicit kickbacks.
The former minister also pleaded ignorance regarding specific allegations, such as a reported £100,000 cash delivery to her home, claiming she only learned of the accusation during the trial’s discovery phase.
Her defense further argued that certain benefits received were consistent with the cultural norms of gift-giving in Nigerian politics, rather than evidence of a criminal quid pro quo.
As the trial continues, Alison-Madueke remains firm in her stance that investigators have fundamentally misinterpreted her professional conduct and the financial controls of the NNPC’s London operations.
