A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the final forfeiture of some assets held in Abuja by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
In a ruling yesterday, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon ordered that the assets – two houses and two luxury cars – be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The two houses are located at Plot 1854 Mohammed Mahashir Street, Asokoro, and 6, Aso Drive in Maitama, which the EFCC valued at $2,674,418 and N380,000,000.
The luxury cars are: a black BMW saloon with chassis number B8CV54V66629 and registered number (Abuja), RBC 155 DH and a black Jaguar saloon car with chassis number SAJAA20 GRDMv43376, valued at N36,000,000.
The ruling was on the applications by the EFCC, seeking for the final forfeiture of the assets.
Justice Olajuwon issued the ordered for final forfeiture when no one came forward to contest the earlier order of interim forfeiture made by the court on November 29, 2021.
The court had, while granting the order for interim forfeiture, ordered the EFCC to publish a notice in a national newspaper, inviting anyone with interest in the assets to show cause why they should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
The EFCC said it published the interim forfeiture order on April 6, 2022 in a national daily, as directed by the court, and later applied for the final forfeiture when nobody came to court to contest the forfeiture order.
