A Lagos Division of the Federal
High Court Tuesday approved the forfeiture to the Nigerian government of a plot
of land in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The land allegedly belongs to the
former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Chuka Obiozor, the judge, gave
the decision following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, the land,
measuring 7,903.71 – 8,029.585 square metres and situated as Plot 9, Azikiwe
Road, Old GRA (UAC Property on Forces Avenue), Port Harcourt, was reasonably
suspected to be part of proceeds of unlawful activities.
The respondents in the
application include Mrs Alison-Madueke, Donald Amangbo, and Sequoyah Property
Limited.
In their deposition before the
court, the EFCC said Sequoyah Property Limited is the company used to transfer
and hold the title document for the property.
It added that the company was
registered in 2011 with one Chukwudinma Nwako and Olisa Eloka Nwaku as
shareholders and directors; and that both names are fictitious.
The commission prayed the court
for an order to allow it “to appoint a competent person or firm to manage the
asset/property.”
It urged the court to prohibit
“any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of
the asset/property.”
The counsel to the EFCC, Ebuka
Okongwu, argued that the judge had the power, pursuant to Section 17 of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006, to make the forfeiture
order.
After listening to the lawyer, Mr
Obiozor granted the order as prayed by the lawyer.
The forfeiture order came barely
a week after another federal judge granted an interim forfeiture to the
Nigerian government of jewellery valued at $40 million allegedly belonging to
the former minister.
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