Jonathan Tells UK Court He Approved Alison-Madueke’s Private Jet Use for Official Trips

Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan told a United Kingdom court that he authorised the use of private jets by former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke for certain official foreign trips, according to a written statement presented during her ongoing trial.

The statement was read in evidence at Southwark Crown Court as proceedings continue in a case brought by the National Crime Agency. Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015, is facing multiple charges linked to alleged bribery during her time in office.

In the submission, Jonathan said it was not unusual for third parties to provide financial or logistical support to ministers undertaking official duties abroad. He stated that such arrangements, including incidental expenses or assistance provided in kind, would typically be documented and reimbursed where appropriate. The former president’s remarks were introduced as part of the defence’s effort to contextualise expenses and benefits linked to Alison-Madueke’s overseas engagements.

Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother Doye Agama. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge centred on allegations of accepting bribes from individuals connected to the oil and gas sector.

Earlier in the trial, prosecutors alleged that the former minister received luxury goods and access to high-end properties from industry figures who expected preferential treatment in the award of oil contracts. The prosecution argued that these benefits formed part of a broader pattern of inducements tied to her position in government. In response, her defence team has maintained that she did not exercise decisive authority over contract awards and therefore could not have influenced outcomes in the manner alleged.

Statements from two businessmen, Igho Sanomi and Kevin Okyere, were also read in court. Both men denied allegations that they provided bribes to Alison-Madueke. Okyere, founder of the Springfield Group, told investigators that he paid £3,900 for items selected by the former minister at a London retail store in 2014 after she was unable to complete the purchase at the time. He said the money was later reimbursed in cash at his office in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and rejected claims that the payment constituted a bribe.

Sanomi gave a similar account, stating that purchases he made on behalf of Alison-Madueke during trips to London were subsequently repaid. He added that his companies secured contracts through competitive bidding processes and that neither Alison-Madueke nor any other official exerted improper influence on contract allocations.

Neither Sanomi nor Okyere was present in court when their statements were read. The trial is expected to continue with further examination of financial records, witness testimonies and documentary evidence related to the allegations.