‘I Was a Rubber Stamp, Not Decision Maker,’ Diezani tells UK Court

In a dramatic turn during her trial in the United Kingdom, Nigeria's former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has asserted that she was merely a 'rubber stamp' and not the ultimate decision-maker regarding oil contract awards during her tenure. Testifying on the 18th day of her trial, Alison-Madueke portrayed her role as largely procedural, embedded within a vast and intricate bureaucratic system where choices were predetermined by the time files landed on her desk.

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the choice had been made by the time files got to her desk.

She elaborated that the operational authority in Nigeria's oil sector primarily resided with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), while her ministry's function was largely oversight. The sheer scale and complexity of the industry, she argued, made direct ministerial control impractical, involving thousands of workers, numerous oil fields, and multiple agencies operating under diverse structures. "It was not a one-man state," she told the court, attempting to distance herself from direct responsibility for the contract awards that form the basis of the corruption charges against her.

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the scale and complexity of Nigeria’s petroleum industry made direct ministerial control impractical

Alison-Madueke faces five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, allegations linked to oil and gas contracts awarded between 2010 and 2015. These charges have led to significant legal battles, including asset forfeiture orders in Nigeria and extensive investigations into her lifestyle, allegedly funded by Nigerian oil contractors. Prosecutors have detailed lavish spending, including millions spent at Harrods and property refurbishments, purportedly paid for by businessmen like Kolawole Aluko.

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It was not a one-man state

Despite the prosecution's assertions, Alison-Madueke has vehemently denied all allegations. She stated categorically in court, "at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort… and did not abuse my office." She further explained that expenses incurred during official engagements were reimbursed by the NNPC, attempting to legitimize the financial transactions. Her defense hinges on the argument that she operated within the established, albeit complex, governmental framework, and was not the architect of any corrupt dealings.

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I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort… and did not abuse my office