Nigeria, April 14 -- A former Nigerian petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday denied asking for or receiving bribes while in office, as she testified before the Southwark Crown Court.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, 65, told the court she had "tried to push back on corruption" in Nigeria, which she described as a longstanding challenge dating back to the colonial era.

The former minister is standing trial over allegations of corruption, having been charged in 2023 with five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

UK prosecutors say the charges are linked to the awarding of oil and gas contracts during her tenure as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015.

Mrs Alison-Madueke also served as presiden...