Diezani Trial: UK Contractor Details Luxury Renovations, Payment Disputes In London Properties
Detailed testimony at London’s Southwark Crown Court has shed fresh light on the scale of luxury property renovations and financial disputes linked to Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, as her bribery trial entered its fifth day.
A former building contractor, Tony Mulcahy, told the court that his company, Bear Rock Construction Ltd, carried out extensive refurbishment works between 2011 and 2014 on high-value London properties allegedly used by Alison-Madueke and her family. His evidence was supported by emails, financial records and floor plans presented to the jury.
Mulcahy, a former director of Bear Rock, said his firm was engaged by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko to renovate a property at 39 Chester Close North, London. According to his testimony, the work included the installation of a private residential lift, which he said was required due to mobility challenges faced by Alison-Madueke’s mother.
He added that the top floor of the property was designated for the former minister’s son, and that the overall cost of the renovation was approximately £2 million.
Mulcahy told the court that he had direct contact with Alison-Madueke during the project, meeting her at various properties to review materials such as stone finishes, lighting and fabric samples. Text messages exchanged in early 2014 relating to design choices were shown to the jury, with Mulcahy confirming that he had the former minister’s personal mobile number.
A central element of Mulcahy’s testimony focused on persistent payment delays from Aluko, which he said placed his company under severe financial strain. He described repeated assurances that funds were imminent, only for payments to arrive late or in part.
By December 2013, Mulcahy said Bear Rock was “on the brink,” explaining that unpaid bills threatened the firm’s survival. After a promised £200,000 payment failed to arrive, he said the company withheld a large Harrods furniture delivery as leverage. The payment was reportedly made shortly afterwards.
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The financial difficulties continued into 2014. Mulcahy told the court that he emailed Aluko in April, warning that unpaid invoices were “ruining us,” and asked whether he should contact Alison-Madueke directly. He said Aluko advised him to write a formal letter, which he hand-delivered to her residence at St Edmund’s Terrace. About a week later, a £270,000 payment was made through Aluko’s company, Atlantic Energy.
The court also heard evidence that Aluko’s company, Tenka Limited, managed day-to-day expenses for properties allegedly used by Alison-Madueke, including staff salaries, utilities and maintenance. An internal email from May 2013 instructed staff to replace references to “HM” (Honourable Minister) with “Clients” in financial records.
Mulcahy said efforts to resolve mounting debts through intermediaries, including a lawyer introduced as Donald Amamgbo, were unsuccessful. Bear Rock Construction eventually entered voluntary liquidation.
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, on five counts linked to alleged bribery. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege that luxury property use, renovations, shopping and chauffeur services amounted to bribes from business figures seeking influence in Nigeria’s oil sector. The defence has rejected the claims, arguing that the former minister had no direct authority over oil contract awards and that the arrangements were lawful.
Mulcahy is expected to continue his testimony when proceedings resume.