Kola Aluko, a close associate of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has lost his bid to reclaim some of his assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The assets include a mansion in Abuja, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said was valued at about $18 million.
In a lead judgement by a three- man panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu held that the appeal filed by Aluko was “unmeritorious” and dismissed it.
The judge upheld the argument of counsel to the EFCC, Victor Ukagwu, that the January 14, 2020, judgement by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court be affirmed.
Justice Williams-Dawodu reasoned that the Court of Appeal found no reason to disturb the finding of the trial court.
Aluko had appealed the January 14, 2020, judgement of a Federal High Court judge, Justice Abang that granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture of the assets traced to him.
The EFCC counsel, Ukagwu had noted that the $18m Abuja mansion, which is “very close to the seat of power at the Presidential Villa, is made up of a guest house, boys quarters, security outpost, swimming pool and underground control room for the remote control of electrical appliances in the property.”
“The property is furnished with luxury and very expensive items” the EFCC submitted.
Justice Abang had, in a ruling in 2016, ordered the temporary forfeiture of Aluko’s Abuja mansion and five other properties including Plot 1390 Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos and Plot 1391, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, popularly called Avenue Towers.