More accusations have been levelled against DiezaniAlison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, who is facinga high-profile bribery trial in London, United Kingdom. According to British prosecutors, founders of energycompanies who had lucrative contracts with the Nigerian National PetroleumCompany Limited (NNPC), paid the running costs of the former minister’s UKproperty. They were also responsible for paying the salaries of herdomestic staff which included a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and windowcleaner. Alison-Madueke is facing trial on a five-count chargebordering on accepting bribes in the form of luxury goods and use of highbrowproperties owned by industry figures. Prosecutors alleged that she also had a high fashion taste. The court heard how the defendant had her own personalshopper at Harrods, using the payment cards of Kolawole Aluko and the debitcard of his company, Tenka Limited. Aluko is a petroleum and aviation mogul who was part of aconstellation of Nigerian oil executives, state governors, cabinet ministers,military officials, and tribal chiefs mentioned in the Panama Papers leak. He was once reportedly probed for allegedly helping tosmuggle millions of dollars out of Nigeria as kickbacks to Alison-Madueke. Prosecutors noted that a personal shopper at Harrods statusis only available as rewards to members who must spend over £10,000 a year. Alison-Madueke reportedly splurged over £2 million on aluxury department store on Brompton Road in London. The ex-minister; Olatimbo Ayinde, an oil executive; and DoyeAgama, her brother are listed as defendants. They have pleaded not guilty.
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