Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is facing serious scrutiny in the UK as prosecutors allege she spent a staggering £140,000 in a single day on luxury furniture and decorative art.

The trial, ongoing at Southwark Crown Court in London, also involves Olatimbo Ayinde, an oil executive, and Doye Agama, Alison-Madueke’s brother. All three are standing trial on a five-count charge related to accepting bribes and have pleaded not guilty.

According to court proceedings, prosecutors presented evidence showing that Alison-Madueke made extravagant purchases at a London antiques store, allegedly using intermediaries to facilitate payments. The luxury spree reportedly included high-end furniture, bespoke lighting, and decorative art, Cables reported.

The courtroom was filled with supporters from the Ijaw community in Nigeria, who had traveled to London to witness the proceedings.

Earlier hearings revealed further allegations that Alison-Madueke accepted bribes in the form of luxury goods and access to high-end properties, all allegedly connected to industry figures seeking Nigerian oil contracts. Prosecutor Alexandra Healy told the jury that the ex-minister “enjoyed a life of luxury in London” courtesy of these benefactors.

In response, Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Jonathan Laidlaw, argued that his client had no real influence over the awarding of oil contracts, describing her role as merely a “rubber stamp” for official recommendations.

The trial continues, with the court closely examining the details of the alleged extravagant lifestyle and the alleged bribery network surrounding Nigeria’s oil industry.

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A 20-year-old, Ibrahim Mutari, allegedly k!lled his father’s 70-year-old stepmother, Hauwa Abubakar, in Yanbula community, Jos North local government Area of Plateau State.

According to Daily Trust, the incident occurred around 3:pm on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Abubakar Shuaibu, husband of the deceased, condemned the k!lling, describing the incident as cruel and inhumane.

According to him, the suspect attacked, strangled and st@bbed his wife with knife before fleeing the scene.

Ummi Ahmed, a daughter of the deceased, alleged that before the k!lling, the suspect had vowed to take revenge for a fight that ensued between him and their elder brother, Musa, after he was st@bbed with a knife last year.

“Ibrahim and our younger brother, Musa, fought last year and in the process, Musa stabbed him in the stomach. He was rushed to the hospital. While in hospital, Ibrahim vowed to take revenge on either the deceased’s children or their mother, and today h”e’s actualized his threat,” she narrated.

“One of the nurses warned us to be cautious, saying his utterances were dangerous.”

Ummi further explained that their mother had taken care of Ibrahim while he was hospitalised.

“She was his caregiver; she took care of him until he was discharged. Despite her kindness, he went ahead and k!lled her.”

Investigations revealed a deep family bond prior to the tragedy; the suspect’s father had been raised by the deceased after his own mother died when he was a child.

To reciprocate her care, the suspect’s father had taken her into his home and cared for her as his own mother until his d3ath.

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A former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and son, Abdulaziz were on Tuesday arraigned in the Federal High Court, Abuja for allegedly abetting terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.

When the matter was called, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Callistus Eze, told the court that the defendants were to be arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on abetting terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.

“My Lord before you is a five-count charge dated Feb. 2 and filed on Feb. 3.

”Subject to the overriding convenience of the court, I apply that the said charge be read to the defendants,” he said.

Following their not guilty pleas, Eze prayed for a date for the trial to begin, and he also asked the court to remand them in DSS custody pending further proceedings.

For his part, counsel to the defendants, Mr Shuiabu Arua, SAN, made an oral application for the bail of his clients.

“We seek to make an oral application for the bail of the defendants.

“We know that it is the discretion of the court to grant bail, and given that they have been in DSS custody for two weeks and came here directly from the hospital, we seek to apply orally for the bail of the defendants,” he said.

The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a short ruling, asked the lawyer to file a formal application for bail.

“This is a court of record, so I order counsel to file and serve a formal bail application,” the judge said.

She adjourned the matter until Feb. 20 for the trial to begin.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the defendants are standing trial in a five-count charge filed by the Federal Government.

According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is accused in count one of knowingly abetting terrorism financing while serving as attorney-general of the federation.

The prosecuting agency, the Department of State Services (DSD), alleged that sometime in November 2022, at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Malami refused to prosecute alleged terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to his office for prosecution.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In counts two to five, Malami and his son were jointly charged with engaging in conduct preparatory to committing acts of terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The prosecution alleged that sometime in December 2025, at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, the defendants were found in possession of a Sturm Magnum firearm without licence.

They were also alleged to have been in possession of 16 live rounds and 27 expended rounds of Redstar cartridges without lawful authority.

The offences, the prosecution said were contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as Sections 3 and 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004, punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.

The charge sheet stated that while Malami was the sole defendant in the terrorism financing count, both defendants are jointly charged in the remaining counts relating to possession of firearms and ammunition.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts when the charges were read to them.

The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the matter until Feb. 20 for the trial to start and ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail application. (NAN)

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