The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to disregard the acquittal of former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by a UK court, arguing that it has no bearing on the forfeiture of her assets in Nigeria.
The commission made the submission in a further counter-affidavit opposing Diezani’s bid to tender the June 17, 2026 judgment of the Southwark Crown Court in London, where she was acquitted of bribery charges.
Justice Inyang Ekwo had on July 1 allowed Diezani to present the UK judgment as evidence in her suit challenging the forfeiture and sale of assets linked to her.
However, the EFCC said the UK proceedings were unrelated to the Nigerian case, stressing that the assets were forfeited pursuant to final orders of Nigerian courts that remain valid.
The commission said the properties were sold based on forfeiture orders issued by Justice C.A. Obiozor on July 9, 2019, and Justice I.N. Oweibo on September 10, 2019. It also maintained that notices were published to give interested parties an opportunity to oppose the forfeiture before the final orders were made.
“The final forfeiture orders pursuant to which the sale of the properties was conducted are still in force and have not been set aside,” the EFCC stated.
Diezani, through her counsel, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is asking the court to order the EFCC to recover properties allegedly sold to third parties.
She argues that the forfeiture process violated her right to fair hearing and that some of the orders were obtained through misrepresentation and non-disclosure of material facts.
The former minister also contends that she was never convicted of any offence that would justify the forfeiture of her properties. She said she had been outside Nigeria since 2015 for medical treatment and was not served with relevant court processes.
The EFCC, however, said criminal charges had also been filed against Diezani in Nigerian courts following investigations into her activities while she served as a public official.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, remains pending before Justice Ekwo.
The court has adjourned the matter until November 11 for hearing of the pending applications.
