On Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to amend her suit challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s final forfeiture order on her seized assets.
Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the application after Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Inyinbor, moved the motion, which was not opposed by EFCC counsel, Divine Oguru.
During the hearing, Inyinbor informed the court that they had already filed a motion to amend their originating process and had served the defendant.
Oguru raised no objections, and Justice Ekwo granted the request, allowing Diezani five days to file and serve the amended processes, with the EFCC given 14 days to respond.
The matter was adjourned until March 17 for further mention.
Diezani had filed a suit against the EFCC, seeking an order to extend the time for her application to set aside the EFCC’s public notice for the sale of her property.
In her January 6, 2023 motion, she argued that the court orders for the forfeiture of her assets were made without jurisdiction and violated her right to a fair hearing, as she was not served with charges or summons regarding the criminal case against her.
She also claimed the forfeiture orders were obtained through misrepresentation and suppression of key facts.
In response, the EFCC, through an affidavit by detective Rufai Zaki, urged the court to dismiss Diezani’s application, asserting that the investigation had shown her involvement in criminal activities, leading to charges against her.
The EFCC argued that the courts had issued several orders regarding the forfeiture, and the properties had been disposed of through legal processes.
The EFCC had planned a public sale of the seized assets, which included Diezani’s properties, following a court order for their permanent forfeiture.
The sale started on January 9, 2023, and according to former EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa, over $153 million and more than 80 properties were recovered from her.
Diezani, who is believed to have fled to the UK after leaving office in 2015, also filed a separate lawsuit seeking N100 billion in compensation for alleged defamatory publications by the EFCC.
