Diezani’s Asset Recovery Suit Stalls As Lawyer Seeks More Time

The authorized battle by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to reclaim property forfeited to the Federal Government suffered a setback on Wednesday after her lawyer sought an adjournment on the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The matter, which got here up for point out earlier than Justice Inyang Ekwo, was stalled shortly after it was referred to as when Alison-Madueke’s new counsel, Eko-Ejembi Eko (SAN), requested the court docket for extra time to familiarise himself with the case.

Announcing his look, Eko instructed the court docket that he was solely simply coming into the matter and wanted enough time to check the court docket paperwork earlier than continuing.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Paul Mgbeoma, didn’t oppose the applying.

Following the settlement of each events, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter till January 26, 2027, for additional point out.

Alison-Madueke is asking the court docket to compel the EFCC to get better her seized properties from people and company organisations to whom the fee allegedly bought them.

In an amended go well with, the previous minister can be in search of an order setting apart the EFCC’s public discover asserting the public sale of her property, in addition to the following sale carried out by the anti-graft company.

The EFCC had introduced that the public sale of the properties would happen between January 9 and 13, 2023.

Dissatisfied with the deliberate public sale, Alison-Madueke instituted the go well with, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, in opposition to the EFCC as the only real respondent.

In the originating movement dated and filed on January 6, 2023, she sought an extension of time to acquire go away to problem the fee’s public discover and the proposed sale of her properties.

The newest adjournment comes months after Justice Ekwo granted an software by the previous minister to current proof referring to her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom.

The EFCC had opposed the applying, arguing that the overseas court docket’s determination was neither materials nor related to the particular points the Nigerian court docket was being requested to find out.

In an extra counter-affidavit, the fee urged Justice Ekwo to dismiss Alison-Madueke’s request to introduce proof of her London acquittal.