Ex-Nigerian oil minister no take bribes from industry insiders, Alison-Madueke lawyer tell court

One former Nigerian oil minister wey dey accused of corruption no request or receive bribes from industry insiders, one court for London hear.

Diezani Alison-Madueke defence barrister tell Southwark Crown Court say money wey pipo bin spend on her behalf on properties and luxury goods for UK, dem reimburse am for Nigeria.

Oda pipo pay for her living costs bicos "e dey forbidden for Nigerian ministers to get bank accounts abroad" Jonathan Laidlaw KC tok.

"Dem pay back dose wey pay di bills for Nigeria…She no request or receive any financial advantage from dis individuals".

Earlier dis week Southwark Crown Court bin hear allegations say Alison-Madueke dey provided wit "a life of luxury for di United Kingdom" wey include di use of multi-million pound properties, one chauffeur-driven car, travel by private jet and spending sprees for high-end stores, wey include ova £2m in Harrods.

Alison-Madueke bin serve as di Nigeria minister of petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 - for court, dem describe her ministerial position as di most senior afta di president position.

She don deny di five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Di court bin hear how one investigation into her mata start for 2013. Dem first arrest her for 2015, at a time she bin dey receive cancer treatment for London. Dem bin no charge her until 2023.

"Gross delay bin dey in bringing dis charges" wey don put her for a disadvantage", Laidlaw tok.

"Dem deny her, dem forbid her di chance to travel to her home for Nigeria to prepare her defence," e tok.

Records for her house for Abuja wey show say dem don reimburse her living expenses no dey exist again.

"Through no fault of her own, she no get available material wey support her defence…na big disadvantage."

Di court bin also hear how di businessmen wey dia names dey mentioned say na dem give di alleged bribes, neva dey charged and no attempt dey to extradite dem.

"Dem dey all around di world and dem dey waka freely to dis day" Laidlaw tok.

E say im client fit no attract any sympathy at first glance but "one of di basics of any jury trial na di concept of fairness. And as a mata of fairness, whatever your instinctive view fit be about Mrs Alison-Madueke, you fit tink say di absence of material wey defendant go wish her jury to see, na real disadvantage."

Also, on trial na 54-year-old oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, wey deny one one count of bribery wey relate to Alison-Madueke and one separate count of bribery of one foreign public official.

Alison-Madueke brother, former bishop Doye Agama wey be 69-year-old don deny di conspiracy to commit bribery.

Di trial continue.

Who be Diezani Alison-Madueke?

Diezani Alison-Madueke wey dem born on 6 December 1960 for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, na Nigerian politician and she be di first woman wey ever bicom president of di Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec)

She bicom Nigeria Minister of Transportation on 26 July 2007.

For 2008, dem move am go Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, and for April 2010, dem appoint am as di first female Minister of Petroleum Resources for Nigeria.

She later bicom di first female president of Opec for di 166th Opec Ordinary Meeting wey happun for Vienna on 27 November 2014.