A hearing in the asset forfeiture suit filed by former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was postponed on Monday due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case is now scheduled to be heard on November 21, as the judge is attending a seminar at the National Judicial Institute.
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Diezani, represented by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed her suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to challenge the final forfeiture order of her assets, a decision granted by the anti-graft agency.
The case with the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023 was filed on January 6, 2023.
In her motion, Diezani is seeking several orders from the court, including an extension of time to apply for a court order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice for the sale of her property.
She argues that the various forfeiture orders were issued without jurisdiction and should be annulled “ex debito justitiae.”
Diezani contends that she was never served with the charge sheet, proof of evidence, or any summons related to the criminal charges against her.
She alleges that the courts were misled into issuing the forfeiture orders through the suppression of crucial information.
“The multiple applications that led to the final forfeiture orders were obtained through significant misstatements and concealment of material facts,” she argued, asserting that the orders violated her constitutional rights to fair hearing and property.
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On the other hand, the EFCC, represented by investigator Mr. Rufai Zaki, filed a counter-affidavit requesting the dismissal of Diezani’s application.
Zaki stated that the investigations conducted by his team revealed evidence of Diezani’s involvement in criminal activities, including conspiracy, official corruption, and money laundering.
The EFCC highlighted past statements from its former chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, indicating that $153 million and over 80 properties were recovered from Diezani.
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She is believed to have fled to the United Kingdom following her tenure as minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In addition to her asset forfeiture suit, Diezani has filed another case seeking N100 billion in compensation from the EFCC, claiming damages from what she describes as defamatory publications related to the multiple suits against her.
