Court Sets October 6 to Hear Diezani Alison-Madueke’s Challenge to Asset Seizure
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 6 to hear a suit filed by former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, challenging the forfeiture of her assets to the federal government.
When the matter was called, Godwin Iyinbor, counsel to Alison-Madueke, told the court the case was for hearing and confirmed that the legal team had responded to two motions served on them.
Mofesomo Oyetibo, appearing for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the first time, introduced himself as counsel for the anti-graft agency. Presiding judge Mohammed Umar, also sitting on the matter for the first time, adjourned the case to October 6.
The EFCC had in January 2023 issued a public notice of its intention to sell assets allegedly linked to Alison-Madueke, after securing multiple forfeiture orders.
However, in her suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, the ex-minister argued: “The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice to conduct a public sale of items contained in the public notice… were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.”
She also claimed: “The several applications… were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts… a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.”
In response, EFCC’s counter-affidavit described her claims as “untrue,” stating that “most of the cases… were actions in rem” and notices were duly published.
