Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, who served as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources during the initial term of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has refuted allegations made by prosecutors in a UK court that he received a bribe from Diezani Alison-Madueke or any of her associates.

Earlier reports from Naija News highlighted Kachikwu's inclusion in criminal charges against Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources. The accusations against Kachikwu involve receiving bribes in the form of cash, luxury items, private jet flights, and the use of upscale properties in the UK in exchange for awarding oil contracts.

As per the court proceedings, Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde, a defendant and associate of Alison-Madueke, allegedly bribed Kachikwu in August 2015 with the intent of influencing his role as a foreign public official when he held the position of group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In response to these allegations, Kachikwu released a statement on Thursday, stating, "I refer to the publication carried by some online media channels indicating that I was mentioned in the charges brought against Diezani Alison-Madueke and others in a London magistrate court."

"According to the publications, the said charge alleged that I was bribed to induce me to possibly confer some potential business advantage on one of the accused. I wish to state that I never met any of the accused before, all through and after my public service period and was not offered nor received any bribe nor did any of the accused persons receive any business favours while I served."

"If there was any attempt to bribe me through anyone, I was not part of that and received no offers or favours therefrom."