Oil executives deny bribery allegations in Nigerian court case

Two oil executives have denied allegations of paying bribes to former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke during ongoing court proceedings in the UK.

Statements from Kevin Okyere and Igho Sanomi were read out at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.

The men are accused of bankrolling luxury spending and home stays by Alison-Madueke, who denies five counts of accepting bribes and a conspiracy charge.

Neither executive has been charged or appeared in court.

Okyere, a Ghanaian businessman and CEO of several oil companies, stated in a 2016 National Crime Agency (NCA) interview that he paid £3,900 for items Alison-Madueke purchased at a London store after seeing she lacked funds, and was later reimbursed in cash in Abuja.

He denied bribery claims as "completely untrue." Sanomi, a Nigerian oil tycoon, told the NCA in 2017 that due to difficulties with foreign currency exchange in Nigeria, he obtained items on Alison-Madueke's behalf in London, all reimbursed later.

He asserted his companies won contracts fairly without improper involvement from the minister.

Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed Alison-Madueke in 2010, also provided a statement read in court.

He noted that third-party payments for ministers on overseas duties were not unusual and that any such assistance was recorded and reimbursed.

#DiezaniAlisonMadueke #KevinOkyere #IghoSanomi #SouthwarkCrownCourt #Nigeria #briberyallegations