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Court hears allegations of extravagant shopping sprees
Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's former petroleum minister, is accused of using bribes from industry figures to fund high-end purchases in London, a court has heard. Prosecutors allege the 65-year-old enjoyed a life of luxury paid for by businessmen seeking government contracts.
Luxury purchases at Harrods and Mayfair stores
During a 2013 visit to Harrods, Alison-Madueke allegedly ordered thousands of pounds worth of rugs, including designs by luxury brand Alexander McQueen, Southwark Crown Court was told. A sales executive described her as looking "extremely glamorous" in expensive clothing.
She was also a regular customer at Vincenzo Cafferella, a north London decorative arts store, where she used the alias "Sharon D." Between October 2012 and November 2013, businessman Kolawole Aluko reportedly spent over £370,000 on lamps and tables for her, the prosecution claims.
At Thomas Goode, a Mayfair china and silverware shop, Alison-Madueke would spend hours browsing, often arriving with an entourage. A staff member recalled her saying, "I don't even know why I'm buying this, I haven't got the room for it."
Alleged payment methods and property links
The court heard that Alison-Madueke never personally paid for items, with bills settled by Aluko and other Nigerian businessmen. These included energy executives who secured contracts with Nigeria's state-owned oil corporation during her tenure as minister.
Prosecutors also detailed shipments of furniture from a Houston luxury store for properties in London allegedly used by Alison-Madueke. Two of these homes were reportedly purchased by businessman Benedict Peters. Photographs shown in court included items allegedly bought for her.
Her driver testified to collecting her and then-President Goodluck Jonathan from one of the addresses, the court heard.
Additional lavish expenses and recorded confrontations
Other alleged expenditures included an £89,410 private jet charter from Luton to Lagos in January 2012 and a £100,000 cash delivery from a north London bank to her flat.
Recordings from Alison-Madueke's phone, seized in 2015, captured a heated exchange with Aluko in May 2014. She allegedly threatened to expose their dealings, saying, "I will come out and tell the Nigerian people this is what happened... I will blame myself... and then all of us go and sit on the gate let us see who survived."
Business ties and co-defendants
Oil executive Igho Sanomi, whose company secured Nigerian state contracts between 2011 and 2015, allegedly ran shopping errands for Alison-Madueke. Text messages showed him pledging loyalty and agreeing to collect Louis Vuitton hat boxes, addressing her as "Your Excellency."
Three weeks after Sanomi called himself her "true soldier," his company was awarded a new oil mining lease, the court heard.
Alison-Madueke's brother, former bishop Doye Agama, 69, and industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, are also on trial. Agama faces conspiracy charges, accused of receiving £1.2 million in bribes to influence his sister's ministerial duties. Ayinde is charged with bribery offenses. Both deny the allegations.
Denials and trial status
Alison-Madueke denies five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. The trial is ongoing.
