London — A former UK contractor has told a London court how his firm carried out multimillion-pound renovations on luxury properties allegedly linked to Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, amid repeated payment delays that eventually forced his company into liquidation.
Tony Mulcahy, ex-director of Bear Rock Construction Ltd, testified at Southwark Crown Court that between 2011 and 2014 his firm refurbished several high-end London homes commissioned by businessman Kolawole Aluko. He said renovation work at one property alone cost about £2 million and included installing a residential lift for Alison-Madueke’s mother.
Mulcahy told jurors he dealt directly with Alison-Madueke on design choices and materials, but said his company faced severe financial strain due to late payments. At one point, Bear Rock withheld a Harrods delivery to recover a delayed £200,000 payment.
Prosecutors allege the luxury properties, renovations and high-end purchases formed part of bribes offered to Alison-Madueke by oil-sector figures seeking influence, claims strongly denied by the former minister and her co-defendants.
Alison-Madueke, alongside Olatimbo Ayinde and Doye Agama, has pleaded not guilty to five bribery-related charges. The trial continues.
