Assets forfeiture: Diezani goes back to Court Feb 18

Further hearing in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking final forfeiture of $4.760 million two Penthouses linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been fixed by a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on Friday fixed February 12, 2018 due to non appearance of lawyers representing both parties in the suit.

The court had on December 5, ordered that the said properties: Penthouse 21 building 5, Block C, 11 floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate) also in Ikoyi, Lagos, be temporarily forfeited to the Nigerian government, pending the conclusion of investigation.

The judge made the order while granting the Ex-parte application filed and argued by the EFCC lawyer, Anslem Ozioko, against the former Minister and one Donald Amamgbo and two companies: Schillenburg LLC, and Sequoyah Property Limited.

The judge, however, refused to grant the order authorising the anti-graft agency to appoint a competent person(s) or firm to manage the said two properties.

But when the matter came up Friday, there was no lawyer from either the EFCC nor the respondents named in the suit.

Consequently, Justice Olatoregun, adjourned the matter till February 12, 2018, for further hearing.

The anti-graft agency in the Ex-parte application marked FHC/L/CS/1793c/17, which has the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Donald Amagbo, Schillenburg LLC, and Sequoyah Property Limited, as respondents, asked the court for an interim forfeiture order of the court, forfeiting to the Federal government the said buildings.

EFCC also asked the court for an order prohibiting any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the said assets/properties, as they were suspected to be proceed of unlawful activity.

And an order authorising the EFCC to appoint a competent person(s)/ firms to manage the said two properties.

Ozioko had told the court that the application was brought pursuant to sections 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act number 14, 2006, and section 44(2)(b) and(k) of the constitution.

The EFCC in affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Abdulrasheed Bawa, stated that during investigation into the ownership of the two properties, YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited,

and that the firm’s deputy Managing Director, one Mr. Fadi Basbous, volunteered extra-judicial statement, wherein he stated that the two properties were sold at $3.570 million, and $1.194 million, and owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited, and Schillenburg LLC.

The deponent also stated that the payment for the Penthouse 22, Block B, 8, Gerrard road, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5,Block C, 11 floor, Plot1, Zone N, FGN layout, Banana Island, Ikoyi, were made Mrs Angela Jide-Jones, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, respectively.

The deponent further stated that the said Mrs. Angela Jide-Jone, is the wife of Jide Omokore, while the said Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, is registered and promotes by Jide Omokore.

The deponent also stated that Jide Omokore paid for the properties through his wife, Angela, and one of his companies, and directed the developers (seller) of the properties to sign the agreements with Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Properties Limited, both of which are linked to Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The deponent also stated that Schillenburg LLC was registered in Hongkong, and transferred on March 30, 2012, to Donald Chidi Amamgbo as sole owner,

while Sequoyah Properties Limited, is registered in Nigeria, on October 11, 2011, with fictitious names of Chukwudima Nwako and Olisa Eloka, as shareholders and directors,

adding that Donald Chidi Amamgbo stated in his extra judicial statement that he incorporated Schillenburg LLC and submitted same to Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke for a transaction.

Justice Olatoregun, after listening to the submissions of the EFCC lawyer, had granted the application and ordered that the two properties be temporary forfeited to the Federal government, and also prohibit any disposal, conveyance mortgage, lease, sale or alienation of the said properties.

Peter Fowoyo