Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on
Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of two properties in Lagos
allegedly belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani
Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.
The properties are: Pent House 21, Building 5, Block C, 11th floor (Bella
Vista Estate) located at Plot 1, Zone N. Federal Government Layout, Banana
Island, Ikoyi, and Lagos.
The other is Pent House 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate), located at Gerald
Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Economic and Final Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on February 5 filed a
motion on notice dated February 2 seeking the final forfeiture of the
properties to the federal government.
In the motion on notice, the applicant counsel, A. B. C. Oziokor, had
sought the order of the court prohibiting any disposal, conveyance,
mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the assets /
properties, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful
activity.
Also, the applicant had sought the order of the court authorising the
commission to appoint a competent person(s) or firm to manage the assets/
properties.
The motion on notice was served on Chima Umezurike, counsel to the
respondents: Diezani Alison-Madueke, Donald Chidi Amangbo, Schillenburg
LLC and Sequoyah Property Limited.
During Wednesdays sitting, the motion was taken and the lawyer to the
respondent filed a response, stating that the properties had earlier been
transferred to the federal government.
Mr. Umezurike did not oppose the application for the final forfeiture of
the properties by the applicant counsel.
Consequently, Justice Mojisola, in her ruling, granted the applicants
prayers accordingly.