COURT ORDERS ALISON-MADUEKE TO FORFEIT FRESH 56 PROPERTIES

IKOYI, Lagos, Nigeria – A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos today ordered former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to forfeit to the Federal Government fresh 56 properties domiciled in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Justice Abdul-Azeez Anka of a Federal High Court who issued the order said the properries included 21 mixed housing units of 8 numbers of four bedroom penthouse apartment; six numbers of three bedroom apartments; two numbers of three bedroom apartment and one number of four bedroom apartment, all ensuit and located at 7, Thurnburn Street and 5 Raymond Street, Yaba, valued at N937 million and bought through Chapel Properties Ltd.

Others are: 16 numbers of four bedroom terrace, located at Heritage Court Estate, Omerelu Street, Diobu GRA, Port Harcourt, River States, valued at N928 million and bought through Blue Nile Estate Ltd; 13 numbers of 3 bedroom with one room maid’s quarter, situated at Mabushi Gardens Estate, Plot 1205, Cadastral Zone B06, Mabushi, Abuja, valued at N650 million and bought through Azinga Meadows Ltd and six flats of three bedroom and one boys quarter, located at Plot 808 (135) Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, valued at N805 million and bought through Vistapoint property Development Ltd.

The entire properties were valued at a sum to the tune of $21, 982, 224 (about N3.3 billion).
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had sought a permanent forfeiture of the property having being reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful enrichment.

Justice Anka held that there was no response to the applicant’s motion on notice for final forfeiture by any of the respondents despite been served with the hearing notice.

“I have gone through the affidavit attached to motion for final forfeiture as well as the submissions of the EFCC’s counsel, A. B. C. Ozioko. The court has no option considering the uncontrovertible evidence filed by the EFCC than to grant the application.

“The motion for final forfeiture is accordingly granted as prayed. All parties has a right of appeal,” he said.

Aside the former minister, other respondents in the matter are: Donald Chidi Amamgbo (2nd respondent), Chapel Properties Limited (3rd respondent), Blue Nile Estate Limited (4th respondent), Azinga Meadows Limited (5th respondent) and Vistapoint Property Development Limited (6th respondent).