In an update published by Premium Times, prosecutors in a London court have detailed how Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, allegedly funded a multimillion-pound luxury lifestyle through bribes from oil contractors. The court heard that the former minister spent over £2 million at the high-end Harrods department store, purchasing luxury accessories using payment cards belonging to businessmen seeking to secure lucrative government contracts.
The prosecution alleges that Alison-Madueke’s lifestyle in London was entirely facilitated by individuals who expected her to use her official influence to favor their business interests. These new details emerged during the trial where she faces multiple counts of bribery and conspiracy. The case highlights the extensive reach of corruption within Nigeria’s oil sector during the previous decade and the ongoing international efforts to recover diverted state funds.
Reuters provided international coverage of the proceedings, noting that prosecutor Alexandra Healy told the jury the defendant “lived a lavish lifestyle in London at the expense of others.” The Guardian Nigeria also followed the story, quoting legal experts who observed that “this trial represents a landmark case in the cross-border prosecution of high-profile political figures for financial crimes.”
Echotitbits take: This trial serves as a reminder of the scale of “oil-wealth” diversion that has historically crippled Nigeria’s development. The outcome could set a precedent for future asset recovery and the prosecution of other politically exposed persons (PEPs) currently residing abroad.
Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/852579-how-diezani-alison-maduekes-lavish-uk-life-was-funded-by-nigerian-oil-contractors-prosecutor.html January 28, 2026
Photo Credit: Premium Times
