The bribery trial of Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, officially commenced at the Southwark Crown Court in London on January 26, 2026. Prosecutors have painted a vivid picture of a “lavish lifestyle” allegedly bankrolled by industry insiders seeking lucrative government contracts between 2011 and 2015.
The trial, expected to last 10 to 12 weeks, follows a decade-long international investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and other global partners.
The Prosecution’s Case: Luxury as a Currency
Lead prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC argued that Alison-Madueke received “vast quantities of luxury goods” and financial advantages in exchange for her influence in awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.
Key Allegations and Evidence:
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The “Sharon D” Persona: The court heard that Alison-Madueke was a regular at luxury stores like Harrods and Vincenzo Cafferella, where she allegedly used the pseudonym “Sharon D” to hide her identity.
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Harrods Shopping Sprees: Prosecutors allege that over £2 million was spent at Harrods on her behalf. This included thousands of pounds on high-end rugs (some by Alexander McQueen) and furniture, often paid for by payment cards belonging to businessman Kolawole Aluko.
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Cash and Travel: The trial revealed a delivery of £100,000 in cash to her London flat, as well as multiple chartered private jet flights, including an £89,410 flight from Luton to Lagos.
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Property and Staffing: Benefits allegedly included the use of several London properties, £300,000 in refurbishment costs for a house in Buckinghamshire, and the payment of salaries for her domestic staff (nannies, housekeepers, and gardeners).
The “Gate” Recording
One of the most striking pieces of evidence presented was a recorded phone conversation from May 2014. In it, Alison-Madueke is heard confronting Aluko about leaks regarding their arrangement.
“I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself… you’ll be shocked what I will do. I will come out and tell the Nigerian people this is what happened… And then all of us go and sit on the gate let us see who survived.”
Status of Co-Defendants and Assets
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Doye Agama: Alison-Madueke’s brother is facing conspiracy charges and is attending via video link for medical reasons.
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Olatimbo Ayinde: An oil industry executive also stands trial alongside her, accused of bribery.
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Repatriated Funds: Parallel to the trial, the US and Nigeria announced an agreement in January 2025 to repatriate $52.88 million in forfeited assets linked to the investigation, including the superyacht Galactica Star.
Trial Timeline (2026)
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January 19: Jury selection began.
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January 26: Trial officially opened.
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January 27: Lead prosecutor began presenting substantive evidence.
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April 24: Expected conclusion of the trial.
Alison-Madueke has consistently denied all charges, maintaining her innocence throughout the preliminary hearings and the start of the substantive trial. If convicted under the UK Bribery Act, she faces up to 10 years in prison.
