Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to retrieve her seized properties from individuals and companies who bought them. In an amended suit filed by her counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN before Justice Inyang Ekwo, she also sought to nullify the EFCC’s public notice of January 2023 which commenced the sale of her assets via public auction.
Diezani further argued that the sales —conducted between January 9 and 13, 2023 violated statutory provisions under the EFCC Act 2004, Proceeds of Crime Act 2022 and infringed on her constitutional right to fair hearing. She asked for a restraining order against further disposals and sought to set aside prior court verdicts granting forfeiture.
At the resumed hearing, Diezani’s lawyer sought an adjournment in order to respond to EFCC’s counter affidavit. Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to March 27 stating delays since 2023. The EFCC, in its response, mentioned that the properties were forfeited legally by court orders in 2019 and sold lawfully. The anti-graft agency urged the court to dismiss the suit —arguing due process was followed in all forfeiture and sale proceedings.
