March 8, 2026/SUNTV Global News Desk/ Investigations | International News
Nigerian authorities have reportedly withdrawn former EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa as a witness in the UK corruption trial of former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke over concerns her defence team could challenge his credibility.
Nigeria has reportedly withdrawn former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, from the list of witnesses expected to testify in the ongoing corruption trial of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke in the United Kingdom.
Sources familiar with the proceedings disclosed that Bawa had initially been scheduled to appear as a key witness in the high-profile case currently being heard at Southwark Crown Court in London.
However, Nigerian authorities later withdrew him from the witness list amid concerns that the defence team representing Alison-Madueke was preparing to aggressively challenge his credibility during cross-examination.
According to insiders, the defence planned to scrutinise Bawa’s tenure as EFCC chairman, including allegations that he was once detained and reportedly compelled to return large sums of foreign currency as well as two properties located in Abuja.
Legal observers feared such questioning could weaken the prosecution’s case if the defence succeeded in portraying the former anti-graft boss as compromised.
Sources further revealed that Bawa had already travelled to the United Kingdom before the decision was taken to withdraw him from the witness list.
Attempts to reach him for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his mobile phone and WhatsApp messages reportedly went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the trial has taken dramatic twists after prosecutors presented audio recordings allegedly recovered from a Samsung phone belonging to Alison-Madueke.
The recordings reportedly captured conversations between the former minister and Nigerian oil businessman Kola Aluko, whom prosecutors suspect of involvement in money laundering.
Prosecutors told the court that the conversations suggested their relationship extended beyond professional oil dealings.
In one of the recordings played in court, Aluko reassured Alison-Madueke of his loyalty, saying he remained “loyal like a dog” after she expressed concerns about betrayal within their inner circle.
Another audio clip from May 2014 — referred to in court as the “Playboy Lecture” — allegedly captured Alison-Madueke warning Aluko about his extravagant lifestyle.
She reportedly criticised his public appearances with supermodels, including Naomi Campbell, warning that such displays could attract the attention of intelligence agencies.
The court also heard that Alison-Madueke questioned Aluko’s purchase of the $80 million luxury yacht Galactica Star, suggesting it would have been more discreet to lease such an asset instead of buying it outright.
In another controversial recording played during the trial, Alison-Madueke reportedly issued a chilling warning during a heated exchange.
“I will be happy to escort all of you to jail along with myself… let us see who survives, me or you,” she was heard saying.
Prosecutors described the statement as evidence of what they called a “suicide pact” between individuals allegedly entangled in a massive bribery and corruption scheme.
Alison-Madueke, a former president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is facing five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
The 65-year-old former minister, who served under former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
She is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, who are also facing bribery-related allegations linked to the case.
Prosecutors are seeking to prove that the defendants were part of a network involved in one of Africa’s largest corruption scandals tied to Nigeria’s oil sector.
The trial continues in London as the court examines evidence surrounding the alleged financial and personal ties at the centre of the case.
