Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Lagos has ordered temporary seizure of a property belonging to former petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, valued at N325 million, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Justice granted the forfeiture of the said Property after a motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by its lawyer, Anslem Oziokor. The land is situated at Plot 13, Block 11, Oniru Chieftaincy Family Private Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
In a motion marked FHC/L/CS/811/18, the anti graft agency pleaded with the court to forfeit the said property which the body suspected to be proceeds from corrupt or illegal activities. The Counsel for the EFCC also sought an order authorising EFCC to appoint a competent person or firm to manage the asset, and also a direction from the court to notify the person whose is currently in Possession of the said property to appear before the court within 14 days to explain why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Kuewumi granted the application and ruled that the order must be published in a national newspaper for anybody who has vested interest in the property to come forward and show cause why the property should not be permanently taken over by the Government.