Lawyer Tells UK Court Diezani Had No Influence Over Oil Contract Awards

Diezani Did Not Influence Oil Contract Awards, Lawyer Tells UK Court, A lawyer representing former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has told a UK court that she had no significant influence over the awarding of oil contracts during her time in office.

Jonathan Laidlaw, her counsel, made the submission on Thursday before jurors at the Southwark Crown Court in London. He argued that Alison-Madueke’s role in the approval of oil and gas contracts was largely ceremonial, describing her as a “rubber stamp” who acted based on recommendations from civil servants.

Alison-Madueke served as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. She is currently facing trial on five counts of alleged bribery and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Earlier, British prosecutors claimed that she accepted bribes in the form of luxury goods and access to high-end properties from industry figures seeking oil contracts in Nigeria. Prosecutor Alexandra Healy told the court that the former minister allegedly lived a lavish lifestyle in London, funded by individuals with commercial interests in Nigeria’s oil sector.

However, Laidlaw insisted that Alison-Madueke did not have the power to decide who received the contracts, urging jurors to consider whether she could truly influence the process or simply endorsed decisions already made by government officials.

The defence also addressed allegations surrounding luxury purchases made in the UK, explaining that the items were bought on her behalf because Nigerian ministers are barred from maintaining foreign bank accounts.

According to Laidlaw, Alison-Madueke repaid personal expenses after returning to Nigeria, while costs linked to official duties were reimbursed by the government.

He further argued that perceptions of luxury differ across countries, noting that what may appear extravagant in the UK might not be viewed the same way in Nigeria.