Diezani Alison-Madueke Accuses EFCC Of Misleading Courts, Seeks Halt To Property Auction.
Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of misleading the courts with misrepresented and suppressed facts in a bid to confiscate her properties. She has also urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to prohibit the agency from auctioning her assets.
Through her legal counsel, Mike Ozekhome, Alison-Madueke argued that the EFCC violated her fundamental human rights by denying her a fair hearing. She is seeking a court order compelling the anti-graft agency to recover all her properties that have already been sold.
Alison-Madueke, who served as Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015, has been embroiled in multiple legal battles following allegations of bribery, fraud, misuse of public funds, and money laundering.
According to her, the EFCC never allowed her to defend herself before obtaining court orders to seize her properties. She further accused the agency of withholding crucial information to manipulate the courts into granting forfeiture orders against her.
“In many cases, the final forfeiture orders were made against properties which affected the applicant’s interest,” her legal team stated. “The courts were misled into making the final order of forfeiture against the applicant based on suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.”
EFCC Insists Due Process Was Followed
In response, the EFCC has denied Alison-Madueke’s claims, insisting that all legal procedures were duly followed. The agency’s litigation officer, Oyakhilome Ekienabor, maintained in a counter-affidavit that the forfeited properties were disposed of in accordance with the law.
“The forfeited properties were disposed of in accordance with the due process of law,” the EFCC’s legal counsel stated.
Alison-Madueke’s legal team has requested additional time to respond to the EFCC’s counter-affidavit. Consequently, Justice Inyang Ekwo has adjourned the case to 27 March for further hearing.