A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of two houses in Abuja and two luxury cars belonging to a former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon gave the order on Monday while ruling on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The houses located at Plot 1854 Mohammed Mahashir Street, and No. 6, Aso Drive, in the highbrow Asokoro and Maitama Districts of Abuja are valued at $2,674,418 and N380,000,000 respectively.
The luxury cars are a black BMW saloon with Chassis No B8CV54V66629 and registered number, RBC155 DH and a black Jaguar saloon car with Chassis No SAJAA.20 GRDMv43376, valued at N36,000,000
The EFCC had on November 29, 2021 secured the interim forfeiture on Diezani’s assets in a ruling on a motion ex-parte filed on September 27, 2021.
According to the agency, Diezani acquired the assets with money made unlawfully.
In granting the interim forfeiture order, Justice Olajuwon had 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 of Nigeria. The court consequently adjourned till January 22, 2022 for report.
In compliance with the order of court, the forfeiture order was published in ThisDay newspaper of Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
In the absence of any contestation of the interim order, the court, on Monday, forfeited the property to the Federal Government.