The high-profile bribery trial of former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke entered a crucial stage on Monday as jurors at Southwark Crown Court began deliberations after nearly four months of proceedings.
According to Reuters, the jury was sent out shortly before 12:30 p.m. to consider verdicts on eight charges brought against Alison-Madueke and her co-defendants.
Alison-Madueke, 65, who served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Prosecutors told the court that the former minister lived what they described as a “life of luxury” in London, alleging that she was provided with upscale properties, lavish hospitality, and expensive shopping trips by oil industry figures seeking access to lucrative oil and gas contracts.
However, her defence team rejected the allegations, arguing that Alison-Madueke merely acted on official recommendations and had little independent authority in the approval process.
While giving evidence last month, Alison-Madueke denied all wrongdoing, telling jurors, “At no time did I ask, take, or seek a bribe or bribes of any sort.”
Standing trial alongside her is oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who faces one count of bribery involving Alison-Madueke, as well as a separate charge of bribing a foreign public official. Also charged is Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, 69, who is accused of conspiracy to commit bribery linked to his church.
Both co-defendants have also denied the charges as the jury now considers its verdict after a trial that began in late January.
