Diezani forfeits N4.8b Abuja houses to Federal government

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) have reportedly seized
some houses in Abuja worth N4.8 billion
allegedly belonging to former Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Dieziani Alison-Madueke.
According to the Nation, one of the mansion's
seized is worth N3.58 billion.
Meanwhile operatives of the antigraft agency
are said to have been deployed to Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to investigate
the ownership of five choice houses believed to
be owned by Alison-Madueke’s. The properties
under surveillance in Port Harcourt are said to
be worth over N3billion.
A top source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence
said:
“Based on latest intelligence, we have
been able to trace more choice assets to
Mrs. Alison-Madueke in Port Harcourt.
We have drafted more operatives in
Rivers State. We have identified more
than five of such assets but we need to
verify the ownership by going through
some documents before attaching the
properties in line with our mandate. In
the next one week, our team in Port
Harcourt would have completed their
assignment. We will then release the
value of the assets. We are also on the
trail of some accomplices who were
used for the property deals.”
The source added
“We are still working in collaboration
with NCA in the UK. I think we are
getting closer to the final leg of the Mrs.
Alison-Madueke probe.”
One of the seized properties which is
worth N500million is believed to be at
Frederick Chiluba Close in Asokoro
District in Abuja. The asset is now
placed under interim forfeiture until the
court decides otherwise,” he added.
Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC
(Establishment Act) 2004 and Section
13(1) of the Federal High Court Act,
2004 empower the anti-graft agency to
invoke the Interim Assets Forfeiture
Clause.
“Section 28 of the EFCC Act reads:
‘Where a person is arrested for an
offence under this Act, the Commission
shall immediately trace and attach all
the assets and properties of the person
acquired as a result of such economic or
financial crime and shall thereafter
cause to be obtained an interim
attachment order from the Court.’
Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act reads in part: “The sourt may grant an injunction or appoint a receiver by an interlocutory order in all cases in which it appears to the Court to be just or convenient so to do.
'Any such order may be made either
unconditionally or on such terms and
conditions as the Court thinks just.”
The NCA in the UK arrested and quizzed the former Minister and four others on October 2nd last year for alleged bribery and corruption and money laundering. Also the EFCC has interrogated three to five more suspects since the interrogation of Mrs. Alison-Madueke by the
NCA. The NCA last year obtained permission from a Westminster Magistrate’s Court to seize 27,000 pounds from Mrs. Alison-Madueke and two other women.