NEWS
UK COURT NAMES PRESIDENT TINUBU, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, ALUKO, KEYAMO AND OTHER TOP NIGERIANS AS EXPLOSIVE DOCUMENTS, MESSAGES AND AUDIO RECORDINGS EMERGE IN DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE BRIBERY TRIAL
Fresh revelations have emerged from a United Kingdom court as the names of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and oil businessman Kolawole Aluko surfaced during proceedings in the high-profile corruption trial of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The disclosures were made at the Southwark Crown Court in London as prosecutors presented a large cache of documents and digital materials tendered as evidence in the ongoing case against the former minister.
According to the prosecution, the evidence bundle contains transcripts of audio recordings, WhatsApp conversations, emails, and written correspondence recovered during searches conducted by the National Crime Agency and the Metropolitan Police at properties linked to Alison-Madueke.
Prosecutors told the court that the documents contain multiple allegations involving individuals within Nigeria’s political and business space, stressing that the materials form part of the evidentiary foundation supporting the charges against the former petroleum minister.
During the hearing, oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde was mentioned in connection with claims that associates of Kolawole Aluko benefitted from their close relationship with him. Ayinde was described in court as a known ally of President Tinubu.
The court also heard details of a dispute between Ayinde and billionaire businessman Femi Otedola. Prosecutors referred to a letter allegedly written to former President Muhammadu Buhari in which Ayinde expressed fears about her personal safety following the disagreement.
Another strand of the case involved Dumebi Kachikwu, a politician and businessman. Prosecutors alleged that he acted as an intermediary in financial transactions linked to his brother, Ibe Kachikwu, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The court was told that substantial sums of money were channelled through these arrangements, including claims of luxury expenditure such as the purchase of an expensive wristwatch from Harrods and payments connected to medical bills.
Prosecutors further referred to correspondence authored by Festus Keyamo, who currently serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. At the time, Keyamo was acting as a lawyer in the matter. The letter reportedly described some of the questioned payments as being connected to land transactions.
Additional evidence presented included telephone communication records said to involve President Tinubu and former Vice President Osinbajo. Prosecutors also cited meeting records associated with Osinbajo’s former Chief of Staff, Adeola Ipaye, with portions of these communications said to have been transcribed.
The prosecution maintained that all the documents, recordings, and communication logs are being tendered strictly as evidence in support of their case and will be subjected to judicial scrutiny.
Alison-Madueke is currently standing trial on five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. She has entered not guilty pleas to all charges.
Earlier in the trial, jurors were told that the former minister allegedly maintained an extravagant lifestyle while in the United Kingdom. The court heard that she made use of a personal shopper service at Harrods, a privilege reserved for customers who spend more than ten thousand pounds annually.
Prosecutors claimed that more than two million pounds was spent on her behalf at the luxury department store, with some purchases allegedly made using bank cards linked to Kolawole Aluko and his company, Tenka Limited.
The court also heard that approximately four point six million pounds was used to renovate properties in London and Buckinghamshire said to be connected to Alison-Madueke.
Aluko, who was previously named in the Panama Papers, has faced investigations over allegations that he assisted in moving millions of dollars out of Nigeria as kickbacks for the former minister. Prosecutors said he held oil contracts with state-owned companies while seeking further lucrative deals.
Meanwhile, Alison-Madueke’s courtroom appearance has continued to attract attention. She was seen leaving court on Thursday without a walking stick, accompanied by a driver or bodyguard. This marked a contrast to earlier court days when she arrived using a walking aid.
She was also observed leaving the court briskly and without assistance on Wednesday, whereas on Monday and Tuesday she had been seen using a walking stick when entering and exiting the court premises.
Prosecutors earlier told the court that Alison-Madueke accepted one hundred thousand pounds in cash while in office, along with other alleged benefits, including private jet flights, chauffeur-driven vehicles, and luxury items from high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton and Harrods.
The trial continues as the defence prepares to respond to the extensive evidence presented by the prosecution.