Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke permission to amend her suit challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) order for the final forfeiture of her seized assets.
Justice Ekwo approved the amendment request after Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Inyinbor, moved the motion, which the EFCC’s counsel, Divine Oguru, did not oppose.
The court ordered the former minister to file and serve the amended processes within five days, while the EFCC was given 14 days to respond.
The matter was adjourned until March 17 for further mention.
He further stated that the final forfeiture of the assets was ordered in 2017 and had not been overturned on appeal. According to him, the properties have already been disposed of through due legal processes.
The EFCC had begun auctioning the seized assets on January 9, 2023, following final forfeiture orders. Former EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa previously disclosed that $153 million and over 80 properties had been recovered from Diezani.
The former minister, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, was accused of fleeing to the United Kingdom, where she has remained since leaving office.
This asset-related case is separate from another lawsuit in which Alison-Madueke is seeking ₦100 billion in damages from the EFCC over alleged defamatory publications against her.
