Judge orders permanent seizure of $153m linked to Allison-Madueke

Justice Muslim Hassan of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on Thursday, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of $153 million linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke. The Judge issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking a forfeiture of the funds as being proceeds of crime.

Justice Hassan had on January 6, issued an interim order of forfeiture of the sum of $153.3 million to the federal government, following an ex-parte application by the EFCC seeking similar relief.

The EFCC had initiated an ex-parte application seeking an interim order for the temporary forfeiture of the sum to the FG, which it claims is linked to the ex Minister.

The court had also issued 14 days to any interested party to appear and prove the legitimacy of the monies, failing which the funds would be permanently forfeited to the FG.

At the last adjourned date on Jan. 24, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo and Mr. Charles Adeogun, counsels representing the EFCC and respondent, had respectively argued their originating processes before the court.

Oyedepo had urged the court to make the interim order absolute and order a final forfeiture of the sums to the federal government.

He had also urged the court to order the forfeiture of other sums to which no claim had been laid.

In his argument, Adeogun urged the court to issue an order, directing a refund of the sum of N9.08 billion to the respondent on the grounds that same was obtained by coercion.

He argued that before such forfeiture orders can be made, two essential elements must be satisfied namely: “that the property in question is unclaimed, and that such property or funds forms proceeds of an unlawful act.

He had urged the court to order a refund of the sum of N9.08 billion to the second respondent on the grounds that same was obtained by coercion.