The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 30 for the hearing of a suit filed by former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is seeking to challenge the forfeiture of her assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During the resumed proceedings on Friday, Alison-Madueke was represented in court by Mr. Godwin Iyinbor from the chambers of Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN. However, the EFCC had no legal representation present.
Iyinbor informed the court, presided over by Justice Musa Umar, that the former presiding judge on the matter, Justice Inyang Ekwo, had previously warned that any party responsible for delaying a definite hearing on the next adjourned date would face cost penalties.
In response, Justice Umar stated that he would not enforce that warning since it was not made by him. He ruled that the EFCC should be given another chance to appear and ordered that hearing notices be served to the anti-graft agency. The matter was then adjourned to June 30 for substantive hearing.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the case—filed in 2023 and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023—sees Alison-Madueke requesting the court to grant an extension of time to file an application to set aside the EFCC’s public notice announcing the sale of her assets.
In her motion, the former minister maintained that the court lacked jurisdiction when it granted the forfeiture orders. She claimed that the process violated her constitutional right to a fair hearing, asserting that she had not been served with the charge sheet, proof of evidence, or any summons concerning the case.
Alison-Madueke is seeking five specific orders, including the nullification of the EFCC’s public notice regarding the sale of her assets. She argued that the court had been misled into approving the forfeiture orders due to the concealment or failure to disclose vital information.
The EFCC, however, urged the court to dismiss her application. The commission argued that all legal procedures had been duly followed in the application for final forfeiture and that the matter had been properly conducted.
According to the EFCC, the properties in question were disposed of in accordance with a court order issued in 2017, which remains valid as it has not been overturned by any appellate court.
What you should know
Diezani Alison-Madueke is challenging the legality of a court-ordered forfeiture of her properties, arguing she was denied due process.
The EFCC maintains that the asset seizures followed all legal protocols and the properties were lawfully sold based on a 2017 ruling still in effect. The case will be heard on June 30.
