The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the final forfeiture of “a vacant plot of land” in the Lekki area of Lagos said to be linked to Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered that the property be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The property is identified as Plot 13, Block II, Oniru Chieftaincy Family Private Estate, Lekki, Lagos, and is valued at N325.4m, according to the anti-graft agency.
Diezani, Mr Donald Chidi Amamgbo, and Mez Group LLC were named as defendants in the forfeiture application.
“Upon reading affidavit in support of the motion paper sworn to by Babana Job of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State; and the court having heard A.O.
Mohammed Esq, for the plaintiff/applicant, moved the application, requesting that the court grant the reliefs sought as endorsed on the motion paper: “It is hereby ordered that a final order be granted forfeiting the property/asset listed and described in the schedule herein to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The most notable forfeiture order against Diezani was issued in July 2019 by Justice Nicholas Oweibo in respect of the ex-2,149 minister’s pieces of jewelry and a customised gold iPhone, valued at $40 million.
“419 expensive bangles; 315 expensive rings; 304 expensive earrings; 267 expensive necklaces; 189 expensive wristwatches; 174 expensive necklaces and earrings; 78 expensive bracelets; 77 expensive brooches; and 74 expensive pendants,” according to the jewelry, which was divided into 33 sets.
“The respondent’s known and provable lawful income is far less than the properties sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the EFCC stated.
In October 2017, Justice Abdulaziz Anka ordered the permanent forfeiture of 58 houses associated with Diezani, while in December of the same year, Justice Mojisola Olatoregu (retd.) ordered the forfeiture of two Lagos properties valued at $4.76 million associated with the ex-minister.
