Diezani Forfeits Another N7.6b to FG

Ladipo Sanusi

A Federal High Court, in Lagos, today ordered the permanent forfeiture of the sum of N7,646,700.000 belonging to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government (FG).

The Court presided over by Justice AbdulAziz Anka gave the ruling following an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final and permanent forfeiture of the money to the government.

The anti-graft agency in its supporting affidavit averred that its investigations revealed that the sum of N7,646,700.000 kept in some banks were actually proceeds of unlawful activities.

According to EFCC, the money was held and laundered through Gbenga Olu Komolafe, former Group Managing Director, Crude Oil Marketing Division of NNPC; Prince Haruna Momoh, former Group Managing Director, Petroleum Products Management Company (PPMC) and Umar Farouk Ahmed, Group Managing Director of Nigerian Products Marketing Company (NPMC) on behalf of Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke.

Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court, in Lagos had on August 7, 2017, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the said sum, allegedly hidden in banks by the former minister.

The order granted by Justice Obiozor followed an ex- parte application argued before him by the EFCC. The agency alleged that Alison-Madueke stashed the money in some banks.