Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to retrieve her seized assets from their current buyers.
Alison-Madueke, through her lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed an amended application before Justice Inyang Ekwo, seeking to overturn the public auction of her properties conducted by the EFCC.
The former minister is challenging the legality of the EFCC’s public notice that led to the sale of her assets, arguing that the auction violated statutory provisions under the EFCC Act of 2004 and the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act of 2022.
She claims that the forfeiture orders and subsequent auction breached her right to a fair hearing under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
She further requested the court to:
- Set aside the EFCC’s public notice regarding the sale.
- Declare the auction invalid and a violation of her constitutional rights.
- Restrict the EFCC from further disposing of her properties.
- Vacate previous court orders that enabled the asset forfeiture.
- Extend the time for her to challenge the EFCC’s actions in court.
In response, the EFCC has asked the court to dismiss her suit, stating that the assets were forfeited following due process.
In an affidavit filed on March 14, EFCC litigation officer Oyakhilome Ekienabor argued that:
- Investigations into Alison-Madueke’s tenure led to criminal cases filed against her in 2017 and 2018.
- The Federal High Court issued final forfeiture orders on July 9, 2019, and September 10, 2019.
- The court had invited interested parties to challenge the forfeiture before ruling in favor of the EFCC.
- Due process was followed, and Alison-Madueke’s right to a fair hearing was not violated.
On February 17, Justice Ekwo granted Alison-Madueke’s request to amend her suit. At the resumed hearing on Monday, her lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, requested more time to respond to the EFCC’s counter-affidavit.
The judge, emphasizing the need for speedy resolution, adjourned the case to March 27, 2025, for hearing.
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