Posted by The hearing date for the case filed by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, challenging the EFCC’s order for the final forfeiture of her confiscated assets has been set for October 23 at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
After Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Benson Igbanoi, and the EFCC’s counsel, M.D. Baraya, completed the requisite processes for the case, Justice Inyang Ekwo set the date.
Following court rulings for permanent forfeiture to the Federal Government, the auctioning of the seized assets, including properties alleged to belong to Diezani, commenced on January 9.
Former EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa recently said that Alison-Madueke was robbed of $153 million and over 80 properties.
Diezani, who allegedly fled to the United Kingdom following her service as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015, filed the complaint requesting an extension of time to contest the EFCC’s public notice of sale of her property.
Diezani demanded five directions from the court in a motion filed by her counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, saying that the previous decisions were granted without jurisdiction and breached her right to a fair hearing.
The EFCC responded to the application by claiming that an investigation had uncovered Diezani’s involvement in criminal activities and that she had been charged in court.
The EFCC urged the court to dismiss her application, underlining that the final forfeiture orders were issued following proper legal procedures.