Fresh details have surfaced in court regarding the alleged relationship between former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and billionaire businessman Kola Aluko, as prosecutors continue to build their case in a sprawling corruption trial.
According to a report by Sahara Reporters, a cache of audio recordings retrieved from a Samsung mobile phone said to belong to Alison-Madueke has been presented in court. The recordings allegedly capture emotionally charged conversations between the former minister and Aluko, offering what prosecutors describe as insight into a deeply personal and potentially compromising relationship.
Alison-Madueke, who once supervised Nigeria’s state oil company during her tenure in government, is accused of receiving bribes from Aluko at the height of their association. She has denied all allegations.
Court documents indicate that the recordings reveal a relationship marked by intimacy, loyalty, and shared concern over public scrutiny. In one audio clip played before the court, Aluko is reportedly heard reassuring Alison-Madueke of his devotion, describing himself as “loyal like a dog” after she expressed fears about internal leaks.
Another recording from May 2014 — referred to during proceedings as the “Playboy Lecture” — allegedly captures the former minister admonishing Aluko over his high-profile lifestyle. She is said to have warned him that his public appearances, including outings with international supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, could draw the attention of intelligence agencies.
Prosecutors also referenced discussions surrounding Aluko’s reported purchase of the $80 million Galactica Star yacht. In the recording, Alison-Madueke purportedly advised him to lease rather than buy the luxury vessel to maintain a lower financial profile and avoid scrutiny.
Perhaps the most striking evidence cited in court is a recording in which the defendant allegedly delivers a stark warning: “I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself… let us see who survives, me or you.” Prosecutors argue that the statement reflects more than a dispute between business associates, characterising it instead as evidence of a tightly bound alliance enmeshed in what they describe as a billion-dollar corruption scheme.
The court is now examining whether the audio material substantiates claims of a romantic and financial conspiracy at the centre of one of Africa’s most significant alleged corruption scandals. Proceedings are ongoing.
