A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties and two luxury cars belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.
The two properties, valued at $2.67 million (about N1.17 billion) and N380 million, are respectively located at Plot 1854 Mohammed Mahashir Street, Asokoro; and No. 6, Aso Drive, Maitama, both in the highbrow districts of Abuja.
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 million.
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon gave the order forfeiting the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria, while ruling on the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the suits asking for the final forfeiture of the assets.
On 29th November 2021, EFCC secured the interim forfeiture on the assets through a ruling on separate motion ex-parte filed on 27th September 2021, which prayed the court to order the interim forfeiture of the assets on the grounds of reasonable suspicion that they were proceeds of unlawful activities.
In granting the interim forfeiture order, Justice Olajuwon 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 to 22nd January 2022 for report.
In compliance with the Order of Court, the Forfeiture Order was published in THISDAY newspaper of Wednesday 6th April 2022.
In the absence of any contestation of the Interim Order, the court, on Monday, forfeited the properties to the Federal Government.
