By Ayomide Otitoju
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application by former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to amend her suit challenging the final forfeiture order on her seized assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the request on Monday after Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Inyinbor, moved the motion, which was not opposed by EFCC counsel Divine Oguru. The court ordered the former minister to file and serve the amended processes within five days, while the EFCC was given 14 days to respond. The case was adjourned to March 17 for further mention.
Diezani Seeks to Overturn Asset Sale Order
Alison-Madueke had filed a suit against the EFCC, seeking to reverse the agency’s public notice for the sale of her forfeited properties. In a motion dated January 6, 2023, she argued that the court orders leading to the forfeiture were issued without jurisdiction and should be set aside on the grounds of denial of fair hearing.
“The orders were made in violation of my constitutional right to fair hearing and property,” Diezani claimed, stating that she was never served with the charge sheet or summons related to the criminal case against her. She further alleged that the forfeiture orders were obtained through misstatements, misrepresentations, and suppression of material facts.
EFCC Opposes Diezani’s Application
In a counter-affidavit, Rufus Zaki, a detective with the EFCC, urged the court to dismiss Diezani’s application, asserting that investigations had established her involvement in criminal conspiracy, official corruption, and money laundering.
Zaki cited Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018, filed on November 14, 2018, in which Alison-Madueke was formally charged. He argued that the final forfeiture orders were granted in rem—meaning they were tied to the properties themselves—and that due legal procedures, including public notices inviting objections, were followed before the assets were forfeited to the Federal Government.
According to the EFCC, Diezani was represented by Nnamdi Awa Kalu in one of the forfeiture cases, contradicting her claim of being denied a hearing. Zaki added that the forfeited assets were legally disposed of in 2017 through a public auction that began on January 9, 2023.
EFCC’s Asset Recovery from Diezani
The anti-graft agency had previously revealed that $153 million and over 80 properties were recovered from the former minister. The assets were seized as part of a corruption investigation into her tenure as Petroleum Minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Diezani, who has been residing in the United Kingdom since leaving office, also has a pending lawsuit against the EFCC, in which she is demanding ₦100 billion in damages over alleged libellous publications against her.
