British prosecutors on Wednesday told a London court that a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, spent more than £2m, estimated at over ₦4bn, at luxury department store Harrods, allegedly using funds supplied by oil executives who benefited from lucrative contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The prosecution alleged that founders of energy firms awarded major NNPC contracts also shouldered the running costs of Alison-Madueke’s residence in the United Kingdom and paid the salaries of her domestic staff.
The expenses reportedly covered wages for a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner.
According to the prosecutors, the payments formed part of a wider pattern of inducements allegedly offered to secure favourable treatment in the award and retention of oil and gas contracts.
Alison-Madueke, a former president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is standing trial at Southwark Crown Court on five counts connected to the acceptance of bribes in the form of luxury goods and the use of high-end properties owned by oil industry figures.
She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery.
Jurors were told that the former minister maintained an opulent lifestyle in the UK, including the use of a personal shopper at Harrods, a service reserved for Black Tier Rewards members who spend more than £10,000 annually.
Prosecutors alleged that over £2m was spent on her behalf at the Brompton Road store, with several purchases made using payment cards linked to oil magnate Kolawole Aluko and the debit card of his company, Tenka Limited.
Addressing the court, the prosecutor said Alison-Madueke was allegedly “provided with a life of luxury in the United Kingdom,” including access to multimillion-pound properties, a chauffeur-driven vehicle, private jet travel and £100,000 in cash.
The court was also told that about £4.6m was allegedly spent refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire connected to her use.
Aluko, a petroleum and aviation businessman named in the Panama Papers, was previously investigated over allegations that he helped move millions of dollars out of Nigeria as kickbacks to Alison-Madueke.
Prosecutors said he held contracts with state-owned oil entities while seeking additional ones.
Explaining the case, Alexandra Healy KC told the court that it concerned alleged bribery within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry between 2011 and 2015.
She said individuals interested in securing and retaining lucrative contracts allegedly provided significant financial and other benefits to Alison-Madueke, adding that there was a strong public interest in ensuring that conduct in the UK did not fuel corruption elsewhere.
Jurors were shown photographs of a Buckinghamshire property known as The Falls, purchased in 2010 by Nigerian businessman Olajide Omokore, owner of Atlantic Energy.
The court heard that from late 2011, Alison-Madueke allegedly had exclusive use of the property, which featured a cinema room, staying there on several occasions and spending about six weeks writing a book.
The costs, including about £300,000 for refurbishments, were allegedly paid by Tenka Limited.
Prosecutors further told the court that between May 2011 and January 2014, about £500,000 was paid as rent for two central London flats occupied by Alison-Madueke and her mother, with company records allegedly showing that Tenka settled the bills.
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who faces one count of bribery relating to her and another count of bribing a foreign public official.
Her brother, Doye Agama, 69, a former archbishop, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and is attending the trial by video link on medical grounds.
All the defendants have denied the charges. The trial, expected to last about 12 weeks, continues.