Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, has formally denied allegations of bribery and corruption during legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, asserting that she neither solicited nor received illicit payments during her tenure in office.
The denial comes as part of a protracted legal battle involving the Nigerian government’s efforts to recover assets allegedly acquired through corrupt practices. During the court appearance, Alison-Madueke maintained that her actions even as leading Nigeria’s oil ministry were lawful and that the claims of financial impropriety are without merit.
The proceedings center on allegations that the former minister used her position to divert state funds and accept bribes in exchange for the awarding of oil contracts. The Nigerian government has sought the forfeiture of various assets, including high-value real estate in London, arguing that these properties were purchased with money stolen from the Nigerian state.
Legal representatives for the former minister have consistently argued that the evidence presented by the Nigerian state does not meet the required legal threshold for forfeiture. The defense maintains that the assets in question were acquired through legitimate means and that the prosecution has failed to provide a direct link between specific bribes and the purchase of the properties.
The case is part of a wider effort by the Nigerian government to reclaim billions of dollars lost to systemic corruption within the petroleum sector. This process has involved cooperation with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which has previously frozen assets linked to the former minister as part of unrelated investigations into money laundering.
While the Nigerian government continues to pursue the return of these assets, Alison-Madueke has remained in the UK, contesting extradition requests and fighting the civil recovery claims in the British court system.
The court is now tasked with evaluating the evidence provided by the Nigerian state against the denials issued by the defense. The proceedings will continue as the court determines whether the assets held in the UK are the proceeds of crime.
