₦airaland Forum

Summary
- Oil minister had no real influence over contracts, lawyer says
- Alison-Madueke was Nigeria's oil minister from 2011-15
- Ex-minister's brother and oil executive deny charges
- High-profile trial due to conclude in April

LONDON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke had no real influence over the awarding of lucrative government contracts and was merely a "rubber stamp" for official recommendations, her lawyer said on Thursday at her London corruption trial.

Alison-Madueke, minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Prosecutors say Alison-Madueke "enjoyed a life of luxury" in London, with oil and gas industry figures having provided the use of high-end properties and given her lavish gifts to try and influence the awarding of lucrative contracts.

But her lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw told jurors at London's Southwark Crown Court that purchases were made on Alison-Madueke's behalf "[b]because Nigerian ministers are forbidden from having bank accounts abroad[/b]".

He also said Alison-Madueke, 65, disputes the extent to which properties were provided for her use and the amounts of goods she received, but that "all that was spent on her personally, in one way or another, was reimbursed".

Laidlaw said personal expenses were repaid by Alison-Madueke in Nigeria and expenses relating to official business were "reimbursed from government coffers", meaning Alison-Madueke received no financial advantage.

"If there was any financial advantage, it was to Nigeria, enabling the Minister for Petroleum Resources to undertake her ministerial business and ... there was, of course, nothing improper about it," he added.

OTHER ALLEGED BRIBE PAYERS NOT CHARGED IN UK

Alison-Madueke, who was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is standing trial alongside her brother Doye Agama, 69, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery relating to his church.

Their co-defendant Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, has pleaded not guilty to one count of bribing Alison-Madueke between 2012 and 2014 and one count of bribery of a foreign public official.

The trial, expected to conclude in April, is one of the most high-profile cases relating to alleged corruption in oil-rich Nigeria.
Prosecutors say that Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko spent more than 2 million pounds ($2.8 million) on items for Alison-Madueke at London department store Harrods alone.

Alison-Madueke is also accused of taking bribes, including gifts and payment for her son's school fees, from prominent oil and gas industry figures.

But, Laidlaw told the jury, none of the others named in the charges against Alison-Madueke have been charged, nor had Britain sought to have them extradited to stand trial.

MINISTER HAD NO REAL INFLUENCE, LAWYER SAYS

Laidlaw said Alison-Madueke's role as minister meant she signed off on oil and gas contracts which were awarded by the Nigerian government.

He told the jury to ask whether Alison-Madueke had "any ability to exercise influence upon who would be awarded these contracts or ... was she effectively a rubber stamp, stamping the recommendations that her civil servants made".

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/ex-nigerian-oil-minister-alison-madueke-just-rubber-stamp-lawyer-tells-uk-trial-2026-01-29/?taid=697bc5b668c9b90001d1a6a5&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Good Defence Lawyer. Well let's see how this Technicalities ends

Why didn't she resign in good conscience then? She has no case.

EpicDude123:
Good Defence Lawyer. Well let's see how this Technicalities ends

Fear of the unknown, by running to the Uk, she jumped from the frying pan to fire.

If she had remained in Nigeria, nothing for happen.

Maxymilliano:
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/ex-nigerian-oil-minister-alison-madueke-just-rubber-stamp-lawyer-tells-uk-trial-2026-01-29/?taid=697bc5b668c9b90001d1a6a5&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

This woman will walk free. Mark this today

Insha Allah, One day me sef go be rubber stamp with accessing to 50 billie billie

Another abacha loot reoccurring again.

Maxymilliano:
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/ex-nigerian-oil-minister-alison-madueke-just-rubber-stamp-lawyer-tells-uk-trial-2026-01-29/?taid=697bc5b668c9b90001d1a6a5&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

this is at odds with the puff piece written here

https://www.nairaland.com/8608759/deziani-2-million-question-what

scrodingers minister - incredibly competent and incredibly ineffectual

Lol she can't walk free oo

Tinubu named appear in charge sheet

You will think our elites have sense to build but you can't give what you don't have. Whether na man or woman their thinking is myopic, parasitic and oppressive. Tell me, what did we bring to this world that we are taking out? Some people are saying contentment is not enough and we should forget it. Money is everything. Please, Deziani wasn't a poor woman before she became minister. She was working for an oil company, places where the President's sycophants make us assume that once you work there you become a billionaire 🤡

You cannot satisfy man's greed. It's never enough. They keep asking for more and more and more. They want the best of everything and they are selfish. Why? Because they only care about themselves. Guys don't forget that Dangote challenged the oil regulator boss to show Nigerians how he pays for his kids schooling in Switzerland private schools! Those kind of children, do you think they will work a minimum wage job and be okay? Never. Their parents have already corrupted their OS from foundation. That's why they all want their kids to join CBN, NNPC, FIRS and where all the cookie jars are but leave you all to work for NIS, Nigerian Army and Police, places they have neglected and destroyed for the common man.

You cannot spend your way out of poverty. If having money is the only thing you are, you're the poorest person on earth. God bless our first Republic premiers who did not abuse office and had enough sense to build institutions that will outshine them and outlast them when they leave office. That's what they call legacy. That's why I can never be convinced by these guys who try to paint Tinubu as what he is not. FGS, he is a public servant. You can't make this up. Except such a person is stealing he could not amass such riches. Note, I call it riches, not wealth because he didn't work for it. There's no wealth without enterprise. E no get as una wan change am. There were leaders before him, there was LKJ before him. There was Raji Rasaki, there was Marwa. None of them claimed they built Lagos but we know the work they did. Since 2003, they were talking about 4th mainland bridge, Fash no waste time to build Lekki Link bridge. Even if it's not the same, if you want to show governance, you will. There's no need for stories. They are all lies. Leave Lagos alone, what about Ogun, what about Enugu, what about Katsina? All our governors are so irresponsible, they want us to thank them for doing their work. I smh when I see our governors doing local government work and bragging about it. Look at Soludo challenging markets. Work OF LG chair

These elites in public service should all be taken and flogged in the public square. After they steal, what do they do? They foolishly buy houses abroad, send their children abroad and build economies outside. They are so insecure, they can't afford to see their people living life in a normal way. They want you to be bambiala for them. That's why they are scared of us asking them questions. They want to distract you and I and take your dignity away so you can worship them. If you cannot serve, get away from there. The other day, that Governor was telling us the work no easy. Like seriously, you begged for the job, why are you complaining to us?

The case of Deziani, like our other theives in government is to show you that they are poor. Poverty of the mind and the soul. Rich people in a poor country. The irony never makes sense to them. Cowards

Stealing Nigerians wealth. Many Nigerian youths don't even understand her case. Yeye COWntry

Burob:
Fear of the unknown, by running to the Uk, she jumped from the frying pan to fire.

If she had remained in Nigeria, nothing for happen.

Malami
Maina
Dasuki
Tafa etc
Political opponents get jail time

Women are the worst type of launderers. Stella Oduah is another example.

SixSeven:
You will think our elites have sense to build but you can't give what you don't have. Whether na man or woman their thinking is myopic, parasitic and oppressive. Tell me, what did we bring to this world that we are taking out? Some people are saying contentment is not enough and we should forget it. Money is everything. Please, Deziani wasn't a poor woman before she became minister. She was working for an oil company, places where the President's sycophants make us assume that once you work there you become a billionaire 🤡

You cannot satisfy man's greed. It's never enough. They keep asking for more and more and more. They want the best of everything and they are selfish. Why? Because they only care about themselves. Guys don't forget that Dangote challenged the oil regulator boss to show Nigerians how he pays for his kids schooling in Switzerland private schools! Those kind of children, do you think they will work a minimum wage job and be okay? Never. Their parents have already corrupted their OS from foundation. That's why they all want their kids to join CBN, NNPC, FIRS and where all the cookie jars are but leave you all to work for NIS, Nigerian Army and Police, places they have neglected and destroyed for the common man.

You cannot spend your way out of poverty. If having money is the only thing you are, you're the poorest person on earth. God bless our first Republic premiers who did not abuse office and had enough sense to build institutions that will outshine them and outlast them when they leave office. That's what they call legacy. That's why I can never be convinced by these guys who try to paint Tinubu as what he is not. FGS, he is a public servant. You can't make this up. Except such a person is stealing he could not amass such riches. Note, I call it riches, not wealth because he didn't work for it. There's no wealth without enterprise. E no get as una wan change am. There were leaders before him, there was LKJ before him. There was Raji Rasaki, there was Marwa. None of them claimed they built Lagos but we know the work they did. Since 2003, they were talking about 4th mainland bridge, Fash no waste time to build Lekki Link bridge. Even if it's not the same, if you want to show governance, you will. There's no need for stories. They are all lies. Leave Lagos alone, what about Ogun, what about Enugu, what about Katsina? All our governors are so irresponsible, they want us to thank them for doing their work. I smh when I see our governors doing local government work and bragging about it. Look at Soludo challenging markets. Work OF LG chair

These elites in public service should all be taken and flogged in the public square. After they steal, what do they do? They foolishly buy houses abroad, send their children abroad and build economies outside. They are so insecure, they can't afford to see their people living life in a normal way. They want you to be bambiala for them. That's why they are scared of us asking them questions. They want to distract you and I and take your dignity away so you can worship them. If you cannot serve, get away from there. The other day, that Governor was telling us the work no easy. Like seriously, you begged for the job, why are you complaining to us?

The case of Deziani, like our other theives in government is to show you that they are poor. Poverty of the mind and the soul. Rich people in a poor country. The irony never makes sense to them. Cowards

They steal excessively
Retirement safety net because Nigeria doesn’t tangibly compensate retirees
Maybe

She's just a rubber stamp but benefitted illegally from the proceeds of corruption therefore she's guilty by association and accessory to crime. Next

Big useless lie! The way Nigeria functions, any minister in charge of a federal government ministry is a near demi-god. He or she gets to approve what reaches the presidents table and the president mostly works based on the recommendation of the minister. This has been the case for all presidents outside Obasanjo. Goodluck Jonathan was even more useless and spineless in that regard that's why brazen looting of the nations wealth went on in his government unchecked.

It was during Jonathan's time that Farida Waziri was selected as the head of the EFCC under the strong recommendation of then Senator George Akume, the current SSG. Farida Waziri was reported to have been gifted an armoured SUV by the then governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio. Farida Waziri did not carry out the prosecution of any politically exposed person under Jonathan's government.

A petroleum minister during that time had easy access to hundreds of millions of dollars and the president would not be aware.

The judge should probably have slapped the lawyer for such joke in court.

So no lawyers wey no corrupt
Between policy and lawyers
Which 1 bad gan?

Burob:
Fear of the unknown, by running to the Uk, she jumped from the frying pan to fire.

If she had remained in Nigeria, nothing for happen.

She would probably be dead if she had stayed back. I believe her Cancer treatment was the reason she fled.
She booked a British Airways flight, right next to BUhari, thinking she could discuss business on their way to London. The man no show face, right there she knew Nigeria wasn't going to be good for her if she returned.

So ministers are not allowed to have foreign accounts or they should declare it in their CCB form. If FG is interested in jailing this woman, they should indicate as interested party.

SixSeven:
Guys don't forget that Dangote challenged the oil regulator boss to show Nigerians how he pays for his kids schooling in Switzerland private schools!

Those kind of children, do you think they will work a minimum wage job and be okay? That's why they all want their kids to join CBN, NNPC, FIRS and where all the cookie jars are but leave you all to work for NIS, Nigerian Army and Police, places they have neglected and destroyed for the common man.

Children of the elites don't even like working in these places that you mentioned.

Some years ago, during the documentation of a financial transaction, I asked a staff of one of these parastatals you mentioned for his employment letter. He told me that he hasn't been issued one...

According to him, most of them that were recruited via recommendation just resume work without any form of documentation, and most of the"rich kids" resign or abandon the job two to three months after employment, upon discovering that the salary and allowances cannot fund their lifestyles.

They prefer to gallivant round town and enjoy their parent's loot.

LordIsaac:
Why didn't she resign in good conscience then? She has no case.

When names start rolling, then you’d know she has a case

Cmanforall:
When names start rolling, then you’d know she has a case

Aiding and abetting corruption is corruption. She's one of the greatest female thieves in the history of the world, albeit your sister. Quote me daily.

RISQUE:
This woman will walk free. Mark this today

She would not.

Not in UK.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

EpicDude123:
Good Defence Lawyer. Well let's see how this Technicalities ends

Even she knows she's toast.

They've been holding her case for years, her tactic was to delay the case and thereby demoralise witnesses, some may pass away naturally in between etc she's delayed it long enough over 10 years now.

RISQUE:
This woman will walk free. Mark this today

Walk free straight to prison, she might not do hard time maybe 2 years suspended but she'll be convicted that is for sure.

That then opens up possibilities in Nigeria ,
Her brother actually stands to loose more in this case

What if she joins APC? Eeyah eeeyah eeeeyab . Wayo dey smell