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Stop EFCC From Selling My Seized Assets, Diezani Begs Court

Published

3 months ago

March 18, 2025

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, begging it to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from selling off all the properties seized from her.

The erstwhile minister in the legal action she filed through a team of lawyers, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, equally prayed the court for an order directing the anti-graft agency to retrieve from persons (natural or corporate), to whom it had sold off any of the properties.

She told the court that the EFCC had, pursuant to a notice it issued in 2023, and acting in breach of her fundamental right to fair hearing, commenced a public sale by auction, assets linked to her.

According to the ex-petroleum minister, the anti-graft agency based its decision to sell off the properties on final forfeiture orders it obtained from various courts in the country.

She told the court that despite EFCC’s claim that final order of forfeiture was granted against her seized properties, she was neither served with any charge and proof of evidence in respect of any criminal proceeding, nor summons relating to any matter pending before any court.

The Applicant accused the anti-graft agency of obtaining forfeiture orders against her through misrepresentations and concealment of facts.

“In many cases, the final forfeiture orders were made against properties which affected the Applicant’s interest, the courts were misled into making the final order of forfeiture against the Applicant, based on suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

“The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the Applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts and thus court has the power to set aside same ex-debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all,” she said.

The embattled former minister argued that the said forfeiture orders were made against her by courts that lacked the requisite jurisdiction, saying they were made without recourse to her constitutional right to fair hearing.

Insisting she was never served with relevant court processes in all the proceedings that led to the orders for final forfeiture of her assets, the Applicant said the EFCC was aware that she was not within the shores of Nigeria at all material times as she left to seek medical treatment since 2015.

“The Applicant did not have any access to newspapers circulating within Nigeria during this period as she was not in Nigeria at all material times relevant to this suit,” her counsel said.

She told the court that though EFCC alleged that the seized properties constituted proceeds of alleged unlawful activities, “till date, the Applicant has not been convicted of any unlawful activities to warrant the forfeiture of her properties and assets.

“The courts, in granting the final order of forfeiture in a matter that is said to flow from criminal activities and which are criminal in nature, and without any conviction of the Applicant, granted the order of final forfeiture on minimum proof based on the civil standards of preponderance of evidence or balance of probability, instead of the strict proof applicable in criminal trials or civil proceedings where there is allegation of crime.

“Only a court of law can declare an act as constituting unlawful activities and there was no such order that had declared the alleged conduct of the Applicant to be unlawful.

“A mere allegation by the Respondent (EFCC) that the act or action of the Applicant constituted unlawful activities will not suffice in the circumstance.’’

The Applicant told the court that she had three suits against the EFCC pending before courts in Lagos, contending that “since the forfeiture orders are being challenged, no sale can validly take place as such would be rendered nugatory.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC, in response to the suit, filed a counter-affidavit to challenge its competence.
In the affidavit deposed to by one of its detectives, Oyakhilome Ekienabor, the anti-graft agency told the court that following extensive investigations into activities of the Applicant while she was a public servant, criminal proceedings were initiated against her in various courts.

It told the court that examples of such cases included a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018, which was filed on November 2018, as well as another charge marked: HC/ADYL/56c/2017, filed on July 1, 2017, before a High Court in Adamawa State.

EFCC maintained that sale of properties that previously belonged to the former minister was conducted in execution of final forfeiture orders of Justice C.A. Obiozor of the Federal High on July 9, 2019, as well as another order by Justice I. N. Oweibo on September 10, 2019.

The commission told the court that before the assets were deemed to have been forfeited, it made newspaper publications inviting any person interested in the properties to show cause.”

“The final forfeiture orders pursuant to which the sale of the properties was conducted, are still in force and have not been set aside. The forfeited properties were disposed of in accordance with the due process of law,” EFCC added.

At the resumed proceeding in the matter yesterday, Mr. Godwin Iyibor, who appeared for the Applicant, requested for time to file his response to EFCC’s counter-affidavit which, he said, was served on him on March 14.

On his part, Mr. Divine Okoro, who represented the EFCC, told the court that the commission encountered some difficulties that made it impossible for it to file the process within the 14 days allotted to it.
Consequently, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter to March 27 for definite hearing.

The trial judge noted that the case had been pending since 2023, even as he warned that the court would no longer entertain any excuses from the parties.

It will be recalled that the former minister had earlier filed a N100billion defamation suit against the EFCC which, she alleged, had authored and sponsored several publications that portrayed her as a treasury looter.

In the suit marked: CV/6273/2023, she insisted that the said defamatory publications brought her into “public ridicule, odium, contempt, derision and obloquy.”

News

Anambra Directs Residents To Repaint Houses

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Government has directed residents and occupants of dilapidated buildings defacing the environment in public view areas across the state to repaint their structures, adding that regulators will be embarking on field operations to enforce compliance beginning from July 1.

In a press statement released on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, said repainting of buildings with particular emphasis in Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor, Nnewi and Ekwuluobia areas, respectively, will commence with immediate effect with the aim of achieving a clean, beautiful and eco-friendly environment.

Odimegwu said concerned residents and corporate organisations in the areas mentioned are required to repaint their houses/buildings, especially those that have not been repainted in the last 10 years or buildings whose current paint is defacing the environment.

He said the exercise is aimed at strengthening the existing building structures, improving the aesthetic ambience, and the green space of the state as enshrined in the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law 2024, Part 4 sec 79 (1-7).

The statement partly read, “Notice is hereby given to all residents and occupants of buildings which are in public view areas of the state with particular emphasis on Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor, Nnewil and Ekwuluobia respectively, that general house hold inspection on dilapidated and unpainted structures defacing the environment shall commence with immediate effect.

“This exercise is aimed at strengthening the existing building structures, improving the aesthetic ambience, and the green space of the state as enshrined in the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law 2024, Part 4 sec 79 (1-7).

“Hence, residents are enjoined to fully maintain, repaint (if necessary) their residential and commercial premises which are in public view (anyaora) areas.”

He added that the Anambra State Environmental Management Protection and Administration Law 2024 provides the legal framework for beautification and aesthetic face-lifting of the state.

“Regulators will be embarking on field operations starting from July 1, 2025, for this particular purpose. Therefore, concerned individuals and corporate organisations within the purview as stated above are required to repaint their houses/buildings, especially those that have not been repainted in the last 10 years or buildings whose current paint is defacing the environment.

“A clean, beautiful and eco-friendly Anambra is possible if we join hands together to improve her aesthetic ambience,” the statement added.

News

Umahi Terminates Benin–Warri Road Contract, Seeks Refund

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has terminated the contract awarded to Levant Construction Limited over its failure to deliver on the Benin–Sapele–Warri road project.

The road, a major federal highway, is being reconstructed under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

Speaking in Abuja after a meeting with contractors handling various sections of the project, Umahi accused Levant of abandoning its section of the road despite multiple warnings and a final termination notice.

According to a statement signed by his media aide, Orji Uchenna, on Wednesday, the minister disclosed that despite intervention by the Edo State Government on the worst sections of the road, Levant failed to mobilise to its portion of the site, leaving critical areas unattended.

“We even begged the Edo State Governor to fix the worst-hit parts while Levant handled the remaining. While the governor delivered on his 23km stretch for N35bn, Levant abandoned its section.

“They received multiple warning letters, including a final notice, but chose not to return to the site,” Umahi said.

Umahi directed the Permanent Secretary to finalise the contract termination, initiate a joint measurement for completed works, and write to the company’s bank for the recovery of the Advance Payment Guarantee.

He warned that failure to refund the public funds could lead to prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In contrast to Levant’s performance, the minister praised Geld and SKECC for agreeing to return to the site following renegotiations.

He noted that a project review has been approved to accommodate inflationary pressures, including the rising cost of asphalt, now pegged at ₦30,000 per square metre from a previous ₦9,000.

“I’m pleased with Geld’s commitment. For their other job on the Lokoja-Abuja road, we’ve agreed to a price review. The same applies to the Itoki–Ikorodu road. We are happy to see movement again,” he said.

He also lauded the efforts of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for stepping in to fund critical sections of the federal road.

“We are grateful. These governors are doing very beautiful work,” he said.

Reacting to recent claims by some Northern groups accusing the Tinubu administration of favouring the South in road projects, Umahi described the allegations as “malicious and uncharitable”.

He stressed that project distribution under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has been fair, inclusive, and based on inherited commitments and current needs.

“In this ministry, we don’t count regions. We follow the President’s example—he inherited projects and chose to continue them irrespective of location,” Umahi said, citing the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road project as a case in point.

He noted that under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme alone, Niger State accounts for 26 per cent of the project portfolio, while the South-West and South-East combined barely get 9 per cent.

In his detailed response, Umahi listed several ongoing projects in the North, including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road (Sections I & III) worth N252bn, with 30 per cent already paid.

He said, “Section II of the same highway, 164km long, valued at N525bn, with another 30 per cent (N152bn) already disbursed. Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina–Kaduna 750km road at N825bn, started under President Tinubu.

“There are Dangote-backed Tax Credit projects in Borno, including 49km in Bama and 52km in Dikwa. The N958bn dual carriageway project in Kebbi, with a second phase heading to FEC for approval. The 439km Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe superhighway is being redesigned to a six-lane concrete pavement on Tinubu’s directive.”

He added that under the Renewed Hope legacy projects, the North is receiving 52 per cent of the investments, while the South gets 48 per cent.

On the controversial Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said the project is not designed to favour any region, explaining that comparable investments are being made in the North with the same quality and cost standards.

“For instance, the Kebbi section alone, with just one carriageway, is costing about N958bn. When the second lane is approved, that’s nearly N2tn—comparable to Lagos-Calabar segments,” he said.

Addressing criticisms on the slow pace of work on the Eleme–Onnexis of the East–West Road, Umahi said the contractor, RCC, has since improved performance after initial issues. He clarified that asphalt work being done on a completed lane was to maintain traffic flow around flyover sections.

“Let the critics go and verify. We’ve done one carriageway. Where asphalt is being reapplied, it’s around flyover intersections for smooth movement,” he said.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s road infrastructure, saying, “We want Nigerians to feel the impact of governance.

“President Tinubu is investing heavily in roads—North, South, East and West—because he understands the economy runs on infrastructure. I have never seen such a unique President.”
(PUNCH)

News

542 Senior Military Officers Retire

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

A total of 542 senior Non-Commissioned Officers retired from the Nigerian Armed Forces on Thursday after 35 years of service.

The retirement ceremony, held at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, included 362 soldiers from the Nigerian Army, 134 from the Navy, and 46 from the Air Force.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Major General Aligbe Obhiozele of TRADOC, praised the retirees for their dedication.

Obhiozele stated, “Today we celebrate your courage, discipline and selfless service to our great nation. Your 35-year journey embodies the finest military traditions of resilience and patriotism.

“As you transition to civilian life, we urge you to uphold these values and become pillars in your communities.”

He also urged the retirees to avoid financial mismanagement and neglect of their health, warning that society expects them to continue to uphold the discipline they displayed during service.

NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Bashir Mamman, said the centre had trained over 53,000 personnel since its establishment.

Mamman thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving major improvements such as bigger starter packs for retirees, digitisation of records, e-learning upgrades, and new workshop equipment.

“These interventions have significantly enhanced our capacity to prepare servicemen for civilian life,” Mamman noted.

Retirees, who were trained in various vocational skills, received discharge certificates to the cheers of their families. Some described the moment as emotional, but hopeful.

Sergeant Musa Bello said, “The training has prepared me well for civil life. I was trained in farming. I hope to invest my gratuity in it. I am proud of my service years.”

The event ended with the traditional lowering of flags, marking their formal exit from military service.