“I Was Just a Rubber Stamp”: Diezani Tells UK Court as Contractor Reveals £2m Renovation Spree

LONDON — The bribery trial of Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has entered a dramatic phase at the Southwark Crown Court, presenting two sharply contrasting images of her tenure: a powerless “rubber stamp” versus a powerful figure living a life of unimaginable luxury funded by oil moguls.

As the trial continued this week, prosecutors laid out a paper trail of opulence that they claim proves she sold her influence to the highest bidder.

However, in a startling defense, Diezani’s legal team argued that despite being the first female President of OPEC and the face of Nigeria’s oil boom, she was merely a figurehead who “followed instructions” and had no actual power to award contracts.

The “Rubber Stamp” Defense

Diezani’s lead counsel, Jonathan Laidlaw KC, told the jury that the prosecution had fundamentally misunderstood how the Nigerian government works. Laidlaw insisted that Diezani was “just a rubber stamp” for decisions made by technical committees and the Presidency. He argued that she did not have the authority to influence the multi-million dollar contracts awarded to companies linked to Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore. Addressing the lavish lifestyle, the defense claimed that payments made in the UK were merely “reimbursements” because Nigerian ministers are forbidden from holding foreign bank accounts.

The £2 Million Renovation

This defense clashed violently with the testimony of Tony Mulcahy, a former director of Bear Rock Construction Ltd, who took the stand to describe how his firm renovated luxury properties linked to the former Minister.

Mulcahy told the court that his company carried out a massive £2 million refurbishment at 39 Chester Close, North London.

• The Client: While the property was for Diezani’s use (including a specialized lift installed for her mother), Mulcahy revealed that he was hired and paid by Kola Aluko, the fugitive oil tycoon.
• The Money Trail: The contractor presented emails showing that when payments were delayed, he was instructed to “write a formal letter” to the Minister herself. Shortly after he delivered the letter to her residence at St. Edmund’s Terrace, a payment of £270,000 was wired—not by Diezani, but by Aluko’s company, Atlantic Energy.

The £140,000 Shopping Spree

Earlier in the week, the jury gasped as prosecutors detailed a single day of shopping that they say defines the case. Evidence presented showed that Diezani spent £140,000 (approx. N260 million) in just one day on luxury furniture, bespoke lighting, and decorative art at a high-end London antiques store.

“She enjoyed a life of luxury in London that was wholly incompatible with her official salary,” lead prosecutor Alexandra Healy told the court. “This lifestyle was funded by those who benefited from the oil contracts she signed.”

What Happens Next?

Diezani, 65, is standing trial alongside her brother, Doye Agama, and oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde. They all face five counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy.

The trial, which began in late January 2026, is expected to last for another eight weeks. If convicted, the former “Oil Goddess” faces a minimum of 10 years in a British prison.