Contractor to UK court: Diezani renovated high-value London property with £2m

Diezani

A former UK building contractor has told a London court how his firm renovated and managed luxury property allegedly used by Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, as her alleged bribery trial continues at the Southwark Crown Court.

Alison-Madueke is currently facing trial alongside Olatimbo Ayinde, an oil executive; and Doye Agama, her brother; on a five-count charge bordering on accepting bribes. They pleaded not guilty.

Giving evidence on the fifth day of the trial, Tony Mulcahy, a former director of Bear Rock Construction Ltd, said the company carried out extensive refurbishment works between 2011 and 2014 on several high-value property linked to the ex-minister and her family.

Mulcahy told the court that Bear Rock was hired by Kolawole Aluko, a businessman, to oversee major renovations at 39 Chester Close, North London. Aluko is a petroleum and aviation mogul who was part of a constellation of Nigerian oil executives, state governors, cabinet ministers, military officials, and tribal chiefs mentioned in the Panama Papers leak.

According to floor plans tendered before the court, the property was fitted with a residential lift, which Mulcahy said was installed because Alison-Madueke’s mother had mobility issues.

He said the top floor of the building was allocated to the minister’s son and that the renovation cost about £2 million.

Mulcahy also told the court that he had direct dealings with Alison-Madueke, including meetings at the property where materials such as stone samples and fabric swatches were reviewed.

Text messages exchanged in early 2014 relating to lighting choices were shown to the court, with Mulcahy confirming that he had Alison-Madueke’s personal mobile number.