Ex-Nigerian minister confronted tycoons who bribed her, court told

During proceedings at Southwark Crown Court, audio recordings were presented involving Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, reportedly confronting two oil businessmen with whom she allegedly had deteriorated relationships. These individuals, Olajide Omokore and Kolawole Aluko, are accused of providing bribes to Alison-Madueke in exchange for lucrative contracts tied to Nigeria’s oil sector.

Prosecutors have claimed that Alison-Madueke enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle in the UK, funded by those seeking contracts from the Nigerian government during her tenure as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015. On one of the phone recordings from 2014, which was recovered from her seized Samsung phone following her 2015 arrest in London, Alison-Madueke was heard stating, “I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself.” Despite the allegations, she has denied the charges, which include five counts of accepting bribes and conspiracy to commit bribery.

The court heard details of two recorded phone conversations between Alison-Madueke and the businessmen. The first, recorded in April 2014, captured her addressing Omokore, saying, “We who are managing the thing have kept quiet. We’ve kept quiet… while people like your wife are busy singing all over the place.” She expressed frustration over what she perceived as blackmail attempts. The second conversation, from May 2014, involved Aluko, who was heard being searched prior to the meeting. Alison-Madueke warned him that his “lavish, lascivious lifestyle” and public displays with figures such as British supermodel Naomi Campbell were drawing unwanted attention and advised him to be discreet.

During this second exchange, Alison-Madueke conveyed her displeasure at rumors that both men might share damaging information about her. She said, “I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself… I will come out openly and say it so they can judge me openly. And then all of us go and sit on the gate. Let us see who survived, me or you.” Aluko responded by denying he had mentioned her name to anyone and described himself as possessing “a million flaws” but being fiercely loyal. Meanwhile, Alison-Madueke’s defense has maintained that she neither requested nor received any financial benefits from the men, who have not been charged or extradited. Also on trial is oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, facing bribery charges linked to Alison-Madueke, as well as her brother, former bishop Doye Agama, who denies conspiracy to commit bribery

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