A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application by former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to amend her suit challenging the order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the final forfeiture of her seized assets.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the request after the motion was moved by Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Inyinbor, however, the EFCC Counsel, Divine Oguru, did not oppose it.
Inyinbor informed the court that the motion to amend the originating process had already been filed and duly served on the defendant. Oguru did not contest the request, and Justice Ekwo granted it as prayed.
The judge directed Diezani to file and serve the amended processes within five days, while giving the EFCC 14 days to respond following service. The matter was adjourned to March 17 for further mention.
This suit is part of Alison-Madueke’s legal battle to challenge the EFCC’s actions, which she claims were made without jurisdiction and violated her constitutional rights, including her right to a fair hearing.
She argued that the orders for the forfeiture of her assets were issued without due process, including the failure to serve her with relevant court documents and charge sheets in the criminal case against her.
Alison-Madueke claims the orders were made based on misstatements, misrepresentations, and concealment of material facts, and she seeks for them to be set aside.
In her application, Alison-Madueke contended that the court was misled into issuing the forfeiture orders, which were made in violation of her right to property.
She argued that the assets had been seized without fair hearing and that the processes leading to the final forfeiture orders had been flawed.
In response, the EFCC filed a counter-affidavit through detective Rufus Zaki, who claimed that the ex-minister was involved in criminal acts, including corruption and money laundering.
Zaki also refuted Alison-Madueke’s claims, stating that the forfeiture proceedings were conducted in accordance with the law, with due process followed, including public notices inviting parties to contest the forfeiture.
He further argued that the final forfeiture of the contested properties had already been ordered in 2017 and upheld on appeal.
The EFCC has also planned a public sale of assets seized from Alison-Madueke, which include properties believed to be proceeds of crime.
The auction, which began on January 9, 2023, is part of the ongoing effort to recover illicitly obtained assets. Former EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa revealed that over $153 million and more than 80 properties were recovered from the ex-minister during investigations.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan, is currently believed to be residing in the United Kingdom following her departure from public office.
Her asset forfeiture case is separate from another legal matter, where she is seeking N100 billion in compensation for alleged defamatory publications made by the EFCC.
