Ghanaian oil executive and Springfield Group CEO, Kevin Okyere, has denied allegations of bribery in connection with the ongoing UK trial of former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Okyere’s statement to the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) was presented in court on Tuesday at Southwark Crown Court, where prosecutors are pursuing bribery charges against Alison-Madueke.
The former minister, 65, is facing five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. She has denied all charges, maintaining that any expenses incurred on her behalf during official assignments were reimbursed.
Okyere, in a 2016 statement to investigators, rejected claims that he had offered any improper payments, describing the allegations as “completely untrue.”
He explained that a £3,900 payment he made at a London retail store in 2014 was a one-off gesture after encountering Alison-Madueke at the checkout when she was unable to complete her purchase. According to him, the amount was later repaid in cash at his office in Abuja.
The Ghanaian businessman, who leads multiple oil and gas ventures including Springfield Exploration and Production, is among several industry figures referenced in the case. However, he has not been charged and has not appeared in court.
Also referenced was Nigerian oil executive Igho Sanomi, who similarly denied any wrongdoing in a separate statement to the NCA. Sanomi indicated that logistical challenges with foreign exchange in Nigeria sometimes required third parties to facilitate purchases abroad, which were subsequently reimbursed.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed Alison-Madueke in 2010, also submitted a statement defending such arrangements. He noted that it was not uncommon for third parties to support ministers on official foreign trips, with costs typically documented and repaid where necessary.
Prosecutors, however, allege that a network of oil industry figures funded a lavish lifestyle for the former minister, including luxury shopping, private jet travel, and high-end accommodation.
Alison-Madueke, who was arrested in London in 2015, recently concluded nearly two weeks of testimony. During cross-examination, questions were raised about whether she had provided sufficient evidence to substantiate claims that funds used for luxury purchases at stores such as Harrods were reimbursed.
The trial continues
Source: BBC
