Diezani Alison-Madueke Requests Court to Block Sale of Seized Assets by EFCC

Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has gone to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from selling seized properties. Through her lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, she sought orders for the retrieval of all her properties already sold by the EFCC to third parties, whether it be individual or corporate entities.

Diezani alleges that the EFCC has been acting contrary to her right to a fair hearing by instituting a public auction of her properties on the strength of forfeiture orders obtained in 2023. She contends that she was not served with any charges and did not have an opportunity to oppose the criminal proceedings against the alleged forfeiture. She further contends that the EFCC misrepresented facts to obtain forfeiture orders from the courts, making them void.

She accuses the EFCC of covering up material facts and misleading the courts into granting such forfeiture orders without paying attention to her constitutional rights. She also noted that she did not receive any corresponding court documents and was outside the country for medical treatment from 2015 and onward and that it was thus impossible for her to make reactions to the proceedings.

The former minister also maintains that despite the allegations, she has not been convicted of any crimes that would justify the forfeiture of her properties. She argues that the forfeiture orders were made under civil standards, not criminal standards, and therefore, the properties should not have been seized without a formal conviction.

In response, the EFCC had lodged a counter-affidavit in its reply. The commission indicates that it had carried out extensive investigations into Diezani's behavior while in office and instituted criminal cases in various courts, including Abuja and Adamawa State. The EFCC maintains that the disposal of her assets was done in adherence to final forfeiture orders by the courts in 2019, which have not been overturned.

The court process continues with the next hearing scheduled for March 27. The case trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, has made it clear that no more delays would be taken lightly as the case has been pending since 2023.

The former Petroleum Minister has also filed a separate case of defamation and N100 billion as compensation against the EFCC for publishing defamatory materials that labeled her a thief.