Justice Chuka Obiozor of a Federal High Court, Lagos has ordered forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria a $37.5 million sky-scrapper house on Banana Island, Lagos, belonging to former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Justice Obiozor further ordered that $2,740,197.96 and N84,537,840.70 realised as rents from the property be equally finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
He gave the order on Monday, August 7 while considering a motion before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC had on July 19, 2017, obtained a court order to temporarily seize the property located at Building 3, Block B, Bella Vista Plot 1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout, Banana Island Foreshore Estate, which is said to have 24 apartments, 18 flats and six penthouses.
Then, the court had directed temporary forfeiture order to be published in a newspaper and then adjourned till Monday, August 7 for anyone interested in the property and funds to appear to convince it why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, EFCC counsel, Anselem Ozioko, said the publication order had been complied with, and that no one has contested the forfeiture order.
“In summary, it appears as if they are not willing to contest this application,” Ozioko said, urging the court to go ahead and order the permanent forfeiture of the property and the funds.
Justice Obiozor granted the orders.
“In the face of the publication, which I find in Exhibit B of the affidavit of compliance before me, and there being no responses from any interested party, I have no other option but to grant the orders as prayed”, the judge held.
The EFCC had informed the court that the Banana Island building was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities by Diezani.
The EFCC said its investigations revealed that Diezani purchased the property in 2013 at the price of $37.5 million, and that she paid in cash.
The EFCC said the $37.5 million was moved straight from Diezani’s house in Abuja and paid into the selller’s First Bank account in Abuja.
Ozioko said: “Nothing could be more suspicious than someone keeping such huge amount in her apartment. Why was she doing that? To avoid attention.
“We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt because as of the time this happened, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was still in public service as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.”
Court Orders Forfeiture Of $37.5m Building, Cash To FG
