Prosecutors in the United Kingdom are seething after Nigeria’s anti-graft executives failed to turn over key evidence in the ongoing corruption trial of controversial businesswoman Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde, Peoples Gazette can report, with Nigerian officials fearing such duplicity could strain longstanding legal assistance ties between both countries. 

Ms Ayinde, a notorious influence-peddler now understood in Bola Tinubu’s circles as the Nigerian president’s mistress, has been undergoing trial in London for allegedly bribing Ibe Kachikwu, a former Nigerian petroleum minister.

The Crown Prosecution Service said Ms Ayinde delivered at least N1.3 billion in cash bribes to Mr Kachikwu while the former risque magazine columnist was driving Nigeria’s oil and gas policy under President Muhammadu Buhari. Ms Ayinde was charged alongside Nigeria’s infamous petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, whom she allegedly bribed heavily in separate deals preceding the N1.3 billion to Mr Kachikwu. 

The Gazette learnt British authorities had in 2024 sent letters to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja, requesting details of Ms Ayinde’s bribes to Mr Kachikwu for use in the trial before Justice Justine Thornton of the High Court of England. The EFCC’s endorsement of the incriminating documents was required to be admissible in British courts, The Gazette heard. British officials had already guided Nigerian officials on how to obtain the files, and Justice Thornton, on November 25, 2024, gave them a deadline of June 2, 2025, to obtain the evidence ahead of the January 2026 trial at the King’s Bench Division. 

A CPS source familiar with the case told The Gazette in a series of exchanges over the past month that they expected delays in getting the evidence from Nigeria, but not this long. 

“We’ve complained previously to Nigerian officials about their tardiness,” the official said anonymously to comment on internal prosecution setbacks. “Ms Ayinde’s case has uniquely troubled us.” 

The official said Nigerian authorities were adequately briefed on the evidence and its urgency, primarily as Ms Thornton had emphasised it should be in from Nigeria before June 2, which was eight weeks ago. A spokesperson for CPS did not immediately return a request seeking comment. 

Despite getting the request for legal assistance in earnest, Nigerian anti-graft officials have now informed The Gazette that the agency was being frustrated from cooperating with its British counterpart, ascribing the situation to Ms Ayinde’s close ties to the president. 

“They’re telling us to look away while pretending otherwise,” a senior official said of agency top brass. “Maybe they think it’s the only way they could help a woman so close to the president yet so close to being sent to jail for fraud.” 

Ms Ayinde did not return calls and messages seeking comment from The Gazette. However, she pleaded not guilty to the charges and has continued to maintain no wrongdoing. 

Officials named Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi as directing the stalling of the records transfer, saying he didn’t seem to care whether or not Nigeria’s mutual legal assistance deal with the UK was violated. 

A spokesman for the EFCC did not return The Gazette’s request for comment about the agency’s handling of the case after several days. A phone number for Mr Fagbemi rang through on Wednesday afternoon.

British authorities charged Ms Ayinde in part eight of their unsealed information with bribery, among others. She was granted bail, alongside other alleged co-conspirators. 

Despite being on trial for cross-border criminal conspiracy, The Gazette heard from State House sources that Ms Ayinde has remained a key figure in directing Nigerian affairs from London, with several appointees of the president going through her to actualise their policy or pecuniary agenda.

“She seems to have some keen interest in national security and key sectors of the economy,” a senior aide to the president told The Gazette on Wednesday. “Her influence, while seemingly subdued, is undeniable.” 

A presidential spokesman said the administration can’t comment on Ms Ayinde’s relationship with the president or specific law enforcement priorities.