Diezani’s Asset Recovery Suit Stalls As Lawyer Seeks More Time

The legal battle by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to reclaim assets forfeited to the Federal Government suffered a setback on Wednesday after her lawyer sought an adjournment at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The matter, which came up for mention before Justice Inyang Ekwo, was stalled shortly after it was called when Alison-Madueke’s new counsel, Eko-Ejembi Eko (SAN), asked the court for more time to familiarise himself with the case.

Announcing his appearance, Eko told the court that he was only just coming into the matter and needed sufficient time to study the court documents before proceeding.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Paul Mgbeoma, did not oppose the application.

Following the agreement of both parties, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until January 26, 2027, for further mention.

Alison-Madueke is asking the court to compel the EFCC to recover her seized properties from individuals and corporate organisations to whom the commission allegedly sold them.

In an amended suit, the former minister is also seeking an order setting aside the EFCC’s public notice announcing the auction of her assets, as well as the subsequent sale conducted by the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC had announced that the auction of the properties would take place between January 9 and 13, 2023.

Dissatisfied with the planned auction, Alison-Madueke instituted the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, against the EFCC as the sole respondent.

In the originating motion dated and filed on January 6, 2023, she sought an extension of time to obtain leave to challenge the commission’s public notice and the proposed sale of her properties.

The latest adjournment comes months after Justice Ekwo granted an application by the former minister to present evidence relating to her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom.

The EFCC had opposed the application, arguing that the foreign court’s decision was neither material nor relevant to the specific issues the Nigerian court was being asked to determine.

In a further counter-affidavit, the commission urged Justice Ekwo to dismiss Alison-Madueke’s request to introduce evidence of her London acquittal.