Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, March 25, 2022, ordered the final forfeiture of a vacant plot of land situated at Plot 13, Block I, Oniru Chieftaincy Family Private Estate, Lekki, Lagos, belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Justice Babs Kuewuni had, on May 15, 2018, granted an interim forfeiture of the land, following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Listed in the suit numbered FHC/L/ CS/811/2018 as correspondents by the EFCC were Alison-Madueke; a Nigeria lawyer, Donald Chidi Amamgbo; and MEZ Group LLC.
Justice Kuewumi had ordered the EFCC to notify any persons in whose possession the properties sought to be forfeited were found to appear before the Court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be forfeited to the FG.
The EFCC had also been ordered by Justice Kuewumi to publish the interim forfeiture order in any newspaper for any interested persons to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the FG.
In asking the court for the final forfeiture of the said land today, Babana Job, an investigator with the EFCC, stated that a Search Warrant was executed at the office and premises of Amamgbo, the second defendant, who is an acquaintance Alison Madueke, sometime in 2016.
In the affidavit, Job stated that one of the documents recovered from the office of Amamgbo was an undated report titled: “Highly Confidential Attorney Work Product August Report. “
The report , he said, contained a list of 18 companies and several properties located in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Nigeria.
He further said that the the Commission extended invitation to Amamgbo, owing to inability to locate Alison-Madueke regarding the discoveries made during the search.
Job also said when Amamgbo was subsequently confronted with the document, he replied that he registered the 18 companies, including the third defendant, to assist Alison Madueke in holding titles of her properties and that all the properties belong to her.
He added that, as part of investigative procedures, the Commission wrote and dispatched letters of investigation activities to Oniru Chieftaincy family property Company (Oniru), individuals, organizations and financial institutions.
“Based on the replies received, the EFCC commenced action to forfeit the vacant plot at plot 13 Block Il, Oniru Chieftaincy Family private Estate, Lekki, Lagos State.”
“The Court in a considered ruling granted an interim order of forfeiture against the plot of land on 13 Block Il, Oniru Chieftaincy Family private Estate, Lekki, Lagos State to the Federal Government of Nigeria. “
“A copy of the interim order is herewith attached and marked as exhibit EFCC 28. “
He also said that in compliance with Court Order as contained in exhibit EFCC 28, the interim Order was published in The Nation Newspaper Vol. No. 4404 of Monday, August 20, 2018 as ordered by the Honourable Court.
In granting the final forfeiture order, Justice Aluko held that: "this is an enrollment of order.
“Upon this motion on notice dated February 17, 2022 coming before this Honourable Court the 25th day of March, 2022, praying the Court for the following reliefs: a final order forfeiting the properties /assets listed and - described in the schedule herein to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
"And for such further orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.
"Upon reading affidavit in support of the motion paper sworn to by Babana Job, of Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) of 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
"And the court having heard A.O Mohammed Esq, for the Plaintiff/ Applicant moved the application praying the court to grant the reliefs sought as
endorsed on the motion paper.
“It is hereby ordered as follow, "That a final order is hereby granted forfeiting the property/asset listed and described in the schedule herein to the
Media & Publicity
28 March, 2022