Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from selling off the properties that were seized from her.
The appeal, filed by a team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), seeks an order for the EFCC to retrieve any properties sold to third parties.
Alison-Madueke claims that the EFCC initiated a public sale of her assets in 2023, based on final forfeiture orders it obtained from various courts. She argues that this process violated her fundamental right to a fair hearing, as she was neither served with any charges, evidence, nor summons regarding the proceedings.
The former minister further accused the EFCC of misleading the courts to obtain forfeiture orders through misrepresentations, omission of material facts, and concealment. She contended that many of the forfeiture orders were granted against properties linked to her without proper disclosure or consideration of her side of the case. Alison-Madueke argued that these orders were void, as they were issued by courts lacking jurisdiction and without allowing her an opportunity to be heard.
She emphasized that, since 2015, she has been outside Nigeria for medical treatment and had no access to newspapers or other means of learning about the legal actions against her. The former minister also challenged the legal basis for the forfeiture, asserting that the orders were made on the civil standard of proof (preponderance of evidence), rather than the higher criminal standard required for such actions.
In her legal filing, Alison-Madueke pointed out that she has several lawsuits pending against the EFCC in Lagos, questioning the legitimacy of the forfeiture orders. She argued that, since these orders are under challenge, any sale of her properties would be unlawful and irreversible.
In response, the EFCC filed a counter-affidavit, arguing that the sales were carried out in accordance with final forfeiture orders from courts in 2019. The EFCC also stated that it had made public notices inviting interested parties to contest the forfeiture before proceeding with the sales, and that the forfeiture orders remain valid.
The EFCC further noted that criminal investigations were initiated against Alison-Madueke during her tenure as a public official, and cited ongoing cases before various courts, including a charge filed in November 2018 and another in July 2017.
In a separate matter, Alison-Madueke has also filed a defamation lawsuit seeking N100 billion in damages, accusing the EFCC of publishing defamatory statements about her that tarnished her reputation and subjected her to public ridicule.
The court is expected to rule on the application soon.
