A Federal High Court in Abuja will hear a suit by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on October 23. The case challenges the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) order for the final forfeiture of her seized assets. The anti-corruption agency had planned to conduct a public sale of all assets seized for being proceeds of crime, permanently forfeited to the government. The auction commenced on January 9, but Diezani has sought an extension to the time to apply to set aside the EFCC’s public notice. She argued she was not given a fair hearing in all the proceedings that led to the orders. The EFCC has urged the court to dismiss her application.
A Federal High Court in Abuja will hear a suit by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on October 23.
Earlier this year, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) planned to hold a public sale of all the assets seized for being proceeds of crime, which included Diezani’s. Diezani argued the sales were in violation of her rights when she was denied a fair hearing, and that some of the final forfeiture orders against her assets were made through suppression or non-disclosure of material facts. She challenged the EFCC’s public notice to conduct the public sale on her property and requested an order to set it aside. Furthermore, the former minister has argued that the anti-corruption agency never served her.
The anti-corruption agency had planned to conduct a public sale of all assets seized for being proceeds of crime, permanently forfeited to the government. The auction commenced on January 9, but Diezani has sought an extension to the time to apply to set aside the EFCC’s public notice.
Although the EFCC has urged the court to dismiss the suspected fraudster’s application, die-hard fans of Diezani would be hoping she gets a fair hearing. Diezani is a Nigerian senator’s daughter and was the first woman to become president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). She held the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former president. Following corruption investigations, Diezani fled to the UK in 2015 and has remained there since.
Diezani argued the sales were in violation of her rights when she was denied a fair hearing, and that some of the final forfeiture orders against her assets were made through suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.
For now, fans of Diezani would be hoping for a miracle of a fair trial. The Nigerian government has been trying to get her extradited to Nigeria for trial since 2015, but so far, all attempts have been unsuccessful. Diezani has always maintained her innocence over allegations of fraud and money laundering brought against her.
Although the EFCC has urged the court to dismiss the suspected fraudster’s application, die-hard fans of Diezani would be hoping she gets a fair hearing.
