A Federal High Court inwards Lagos has ordered permanent forfeiture of due north 7, 644, 700, 000.00 belonging to sometime Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.
The coin which is reasonable suspected to live on proceeds of illegal activities was traced past times the Economic as well as Financial Crimes Commission to an line of piece of job organisation human relationship inwards a novel generation bank. It is said to amid monies allegedly stashed inwards several local banks past times the sometime minister.
Today’s ruling past times Justice Abdulaziz Anka followed an application past times the EFCC seeking the end forfeiture of the coin to the federal government. This came on the heels of the interim forfeiture guild past times Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High courtroom inwards which he mandated the Commission to world a notice inwards the media requesting whatever interested political party to present movement inside 2 weeks, why the coin should non live on permanently forfeited to the federal government.
At the hearing on Monday, Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the Court that the interim guild had been published inwards a national paper every bit directed as well as no 1 contested the forfeiture order.
Urging the courtroom to guild a permanent forfeiture of the funds, Oyedepo said, “ I pray my Lord to forfeit this coin to the Federal Government of Nigeria for it to live on utilized for Nigerians, since no 1 is willing to competitor this application.
Delivering his sentence on the application, Justice Anka held that, “In the confront of the publication, which I abide by earlier me, as well as in that place beingness no responses from whatever interested party, I bring no other pick precisely to grant the orders every bit prayed”.
This end forfeiture is coming few days afterward the same Judge ordered an interim forfeiture of properties worth $21,392,224 linked to the sometime minister.
Wilson Uwujaren
EFCC Head, Media as well as Publicity
28 August, 2017