Diezani Alison Madueke, former Nigerian minister for petroleum for five years in the early 2010s, was at Southwark Crown Court this week facing charges of accepting a bribe, contrary to section 2 of the Bribery Act, and conspiracy to commit bribery contrary to section 1.

In court, prosecutors from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleged Madueke accepted millions of pounds in bribes from Nigerian and Ghanaian businessmen, and lived a ‘life of luxury’ in London with trips to Harrods and stays in apartments in Regent’s Park.

Madueke stands trial with her brother, Doye Agama, a former archbishop of a Pentecostal church in Manchester, who is facing charges of conspiracy to commit bribery. A third defendant is Nigerian businesswoman Olatimbo Ayinde, who also faces two separate charges of bribery in relation to Madueke, and bribery of a foreign public official.