Rita Odafe
Diezani Alison-Madueke
Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum, is currently facing a delay in her legal case against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the seizure of her assets. The case, which was set to be heard in a Federal High Court in Abuja on October 7, was postponed because the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, was attending a seminar.
The case will now be addressed on November 21. Alison-Madueke’s legal representation, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, has filed a suit challenging the EFCC’s order for the final forfeiture of her assets, which are believed to be results of alleged financial crimes.
In her legal filings, identified by the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, Alison-Madueke is seeking permission to overturn a public sale of her properties ordered by the EFCC. She argues that the court rulings were made without valid jurisdiction and that she did not receive a fair hearing in the related proceedings.
She claims that these court orders violated her constitutional rights to a fair hearing, asserting that she was not properly notified of any charges against her. Additionally, she argues that the decisions to forfeit her assets were based on misleading information and a lack of transparency from the courts.
In contrast, the EFCC, through investigator Mr. Rufai Zaki, has urged the court to reject Alison-Madueke’s application. Zaki insists that the ex-minister is indeed implicated in criminal activities, which justifies the charges filed against her in 2018.
He argues that the ex-minister’s claims are largely incorrect, asserting that the courts properly addressed the forfeiture of assets in previous proceedings. Zaki maintains that due process was followed in the sale of the disputed properties and that Alison-Madueke had representation during the earlier hearings.
It has been previously noted by the EFCC that a significant amount of money and various properties have been recovered from Alison-Madueke, who has been living in the United Kingdom since her tenure as Minister of Petroleum from 2010 to 2015. The current asset-related lawsuit is separate from another that she has filed, seeking compensation for alleged defamatory statements made by the EFCC.
