Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, fixed October 6 for hearing of a suit by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, challenging forfeiture of her assets to the Federal Government.
At the proceeding, Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Mr. Godwin Inyinbor, told the court that the case was for hearing but that they were served with two motions which they had replied.
Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Mofesomo Oyetibo, however, informed the court that he was appearing in the case for the first time.
The judge also revealed that the matter was coming up before him for the first time.
He, consequently, adjourned the case till October 6 for hearing.
The EFCC had in recent years secured orders for the forfeiture of assets owned by the ex-minister who fled the country shortly after the 2015 general election.
Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on July 20, 2017, ordered the temporary forfeiture of a $37.5 million (N11.7 billion) property on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, belonging to Alison-Madueke.
In the same vein, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on October 25, 2022, granted the final forfeiture of the former minister’s $3 million homes and cars in Abuja.
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Alison-Madueke had in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, urged the court to extend the time to apply for an order to set aside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s public notice for sale of her assets.
She argued that the order for forfeiture of the assets was made without jurisdiction, saying she was denied fair hearing in the proceedings leading to the forfeiture order.
The applicant, therefore, asked the court to annul EFCC’s public notice on the sale of her properties.
She also argued that the forfeiture violated her constitutional right to fair hearing as enshrined in section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
In response, EFCC urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that she had been properly brought before the court.
The commission averred that the application for final forfeiture of the assets had been properly instituted and conducted following all legal requirements.
