UK Court Hears Recordings in Diezani Bribery Trial

A UK court has heard secretly recorded conversations in which a former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, allegedly confronted two oil businessmen accused of bankrolling her luxury lifestyle in exchange for lucrative contracts.

At Southwark Crown Court in London, prosecutors played audio files recovered from a Samsung phone seized during Alison-Madueke’s arrest in 2015.

The recordings, made in 2014, captured conversations between the 65-year-old former minister and oil magnates Olajide Omokore and Kolawole Aluko.

Alison-Madueke denies five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Prosecutors allege she was provided with “a life of luxury” in the United Kingdom by individuals seeking favourable oil contracts from the Nigerian government during her tenure as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015.

Omokore and Aluko are not standing trial, but are said to have paid bribes during that period.

In one recording from April 2014, Alison-Madueke was heard confronting Omokore over claims that his wife was spreading information that could implicate her.

“We who are managing the thing have kept quiet… while people like your wife are busy singing all over the place,” she said, adding: “I do not react well to being blackmailed.”

A second recording, made a month later during a meeting with Aluko, captured the former minister criticising what she described as his “lavish, lascivious lifestyle,” warning it was drawing unwanted public attention.

She referenced his associations with high-profile figures, including British supermodel Naomi Campbell, cautioning that such displays were ill-timed.

“As far as everybody’s concerned, you’re a playboy,” she said, warning that intelligence agencies could begin monitoring him because of his conduct and asset acquisitions.

In the audio played to the court, Alison-Madueke expressed anger over suggestions that either man possessed damaging information about her.

“I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself,” she declared. “When it comes to that, I will come out and tell the Nigerian people this is what happened.”

Aluko was heard denying mentioning her name and told the former minister he had placed materials in a safety deposit box that could “save me from jail,” describing himself as flawed but “loyal like a dog.”

Defence counsel previously told the court that Alison-Madueke neither requested nor received financial benefits from the businessmen, noting that they have not been charged or extradited in the matter.

Also standing trial is oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who denies one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another of bribing a foreign public official.

Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, 69, a former bishop, also denies a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

The trial continues.

Senegal Moves to Raise Jail Term for Same-Sex Relations to 10 Years

Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, has introduced a bill seeking to double the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations to 10 years, amid a wave of recent arrests under the country’s existing anti-LGBT laws.

The proposed legislation, approved by the cabinet last week and transmitted to parliament on Tuesday, prescribes prison terms ranging from five to 10 years for what it describes as “acts against nature,” up from the current one- to five-year penalty.

Addressing lawmakers, Sonko said the maximum punishment would apply where the offence involves a minor.

The draft law also defines any sexual conduct between two people of the same sex as an “act against nature.”

In addition, the bill proposes prison terms of three to seven years for individuals found guilty of promoting or advocating same-sex relations.

It also outlines separate sanctions for those who accuse others of homosexuality without proof.

Convicted persons could face fines of up to 10 million CFA francs (approximately $18,000 or £13,000), according to the prime minister, who noted that the offence would remain classified as a misdemeanour under the revised law.

The move follows heightened enforcement actions. Earlier this month, police detained at least 12 men, including two public figures and a prominent journalist, under anti-LGBT provisions.

Local media reports indicate that about 30 people have been arrested in total this month.

Although no date has yet been announced for parliament to debate and vote on the bill. However, the legislature is controlled by Sonko’s Pastef party.

Several African countries have enacted similar measures in recent years. In September 2025, Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament approved legislation banning homosexual acts, following similar steps taken by Mali in 2024.

In 2023, Uganda passed some of the world’s toughest anti-homosexuality laws, including provisions allowing the death penalty for certain same-sex acts.

Trump Hails ‘Turnaround for the Ages’ in Record 110-Minute Address

United States President, Donald Trump, on Tuesday night delivered the longest State of the Union address in American history, declaring that his first year back in the White House had produced what he described as a sweeping economic revival.

The address, which lasted nearly one hour and 50 minutes before a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol, saw the president repeatedly defend his economic policies, warn Iran over its nuclear ambitions and criticise a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States on tariffs.

Trump said his administration had overseen a “turnaround for the ages,” insisting that the US economy was regaining strength through tax reforms, deregulation and trade measures aimed at protecting American industries.

“We have delivered results that many said were impossible,” he told lawmakers, as Republican members rose in applause.

The president maintained that his policies had boosted job creation, encouraged domestic manufacturing and restored investor confidence.

However, he did not provide detailed economic statistics during the speech.

On trade, Trump faulted the Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down aspects of his sweeping global tariffs.

Moments before launching into his criticism, the president was seen briefly shaking hands with several justices seated in the chamber.

He described the ruling as “very unfortunate,” arguing that the tariffs were necessary to shield American workers from what he called unfair foreign competition.

Analysts say the court’s decision represents a significant legal hurdle for one of the administration’s signature economic strategies, potentially limiting the scope of executive authority in imposing trade restrictions.

Turning to foreign policy, Trump addressed crises with Iran, reiterating his administration’s opposition to any move by Tehran to pursue nuclear weapons.

“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy,” the president said, while warning that the United States would not permit Iran to develop a nuclear weapons programme.

The remarks come amid renewed international concern over nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

The speech drew sharp partisan reactions. While Republicans applauded frequently, Democrats remained largely subdued.

In the Democratic response, Virginia Governor, Abigail Spanberger, said the president “offered no real solutions to our nation’s pressing challenges.”

Spanberger criticised the administration for failing to present concrete plans to address healthcare costs, economic inequality and other domestic concerns.