The Federal High Court in Lagos will today decide whether the
N7,646,700,000 allegedly hidden in Sterling Bank Plc by a former
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, can
be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
On August 9, 2017, vacation judge Justice Chuka Obiozor granted
an order temporarily forfeiting the money to the Federal
Government.
Justice Obiozor’s order followed an ex parte application argued
before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
He adjourned till today for the bank and any other interested
party to appear before him to show cause why the funds should not
be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The EFCC told the judge that the N7.6 billion was part of a sum
of $153,310,000, which Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly siphoned from
the coffers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
sometime in 2014.
The anti-graft agency said she stashed the money in three banks,
adding that the Federal Government had since February last year,
through an order by Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High
Court, Lagos recovered part of the money from the other banks.
The anti-graft agency recalled that the Federal Government had
recovered N23.4 billion, $5 million and another N9.08 billion of
the $153.3m million.
It urged the court to order Sterling Bank to deliver up to the
Federal Government the N7.6 billion still in its custody.
In an eight-paragraph affidavit, an operative of the EFCC, Usman
Zakari, averred that the former Petroleum Minister laundered the
money in connivance with other officials of the NNPC.
On August 7, 2017, Justice Obiozor ordered the permanent
forfeiture to the Federal Government of a $37.5million Banana
Island property allegedly bought in 2013 by Mrs.
Alison-Madueke.
The property designated as Building 3, Block B, Bella Vista Plot
1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout, Banana Island Foreshore
Estate, consists of 24 apartments, 18 flats and six penthouses.
The judge also ordered that $2,740,197.96 and N84,537,840.70
realised as rent on the property be permanently forfeited to the
government.
Last Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the
interim forfeiture of 56 houses allegedly bought between 2011 and
2013 for $21,982,224 (N3,320,000,000) by Diezani.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka adjourned till September 8 for anyone to
show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited
to the Federal Government.
On August 8, 2017, The Nation revealed that the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced N47.2 billion and
$487.5million to the ex-minister.
The agency also claimed that Alison Madueke had N23,446,300,000
and $5 million (about N1.5billion) cash in various banks, which
were yet to be forfeited.
The commission is also investigating properties in Britain and
the United States she allegedly purchased with stolen government
funds.
Alison-Madueke, who was a powerful member of former President
Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet from 2010 to May 2015, has consistently
denied the allegations.
The Federal High Court in Lagos will today decide whether the
N7,646,700,000 allegedly hidden in Sterling Bank Plc by a former
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, can
be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
On August 9, 2017, vacation judge Justice Chuka Obiozor granted
an order temporarily forfeiting the money to the Federal
Government.
Justice Obiozor’s order followed an ex parte application argued
before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
He adjourned till today for the bank and any other interested
party to appear before him to show cause why the funds should not
be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The EFCC told the judge that the N7.6 billion was part of a sum
of $153,310,000, which Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly siphoned from
the coffers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
sometime in 2014.
The anti-graft agency said she stashed the money in three banks,
adding that the Federal Government had since February last year,
through an order by Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High
Court, Lagos recovered part of the money from the other banks.
The anti-graft agency recalled that the Federal Government had
recovered N23.4 billion, $5 million and another N9.08 billion of
the $153.3m million.
It urged the court to order Sterling Bank to deliver up to the
Federal Government the N7.6 billion still in its custody.
In an eight-paragraph affidavit, an operative of the EFCC, Usman
Zakari, averred that the former Petroleum Minister laundered the
money in connivance with other officials of the NNPC.
On August 7, 2017, Justice Obiozor ordered the permanent
forfeiture to the Federal Government of a $37.5million Banana
Island property allegedly bought in 2013 by Mrs.
Alison-Madueke.
The property designated as Building 3, Block B, Bella Vista Plot
1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout, Banana Island Foreshore
Estate, consists of 24 apartments, 18 flats and six penthouses.
The judge also ordered that $2,740,197.96 and N84,537,840.70
realised as rent on the property be permanently forfeited to the
government.
Last Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the
interim forfeiture of 56 houses allegedly bought between 2011 and
2013 for $21,982,224 (N3,320,000,000) by Diezani.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka adjourned till September 8 for anyone to
show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited
to the Federal Government.
On August 8, 2017, The Nation revealed that the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced N47.2 billion and
$487.5million to the ex-minister.
The agency also claimed that Alison Madueke had N23,446,300,000
and $5 million (about N1.5billion) cash in various banks, which
were yet to be forfeited.
The commission is also investigating properties in Britain and
the United States she allegedly purchased with stolen government
funds.
Alison-Madueke, who was a powerful member of former President
Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet from 2010 to May 2015, has consistently
denied the allegations.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/diezani-court-rules-today-on-hidden-n7-6b/