Abubakar Siddiq Ibn Usman
The former Petroleum Minister who served between 2010 and 2015, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of misleading courts with misrepresented and suppressed facts.
She also asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to prohibit the anti-graft agency from auctioning her properties on Monday.
Alison-Madueke accused the agency of denying her a fair hearing, noting that it violated her fundamental human rights.
The former petroleum minister, through her legal counsel, Mike Ozekhome, urged the court to order the EFCC to recover all her properties that have been sold by the agency.
Upon leaving office in 2015, Allison-Madueke was accused of bribery, fraud, misuse of public funds, and money laundering cases.
A legal battle has since ensued between her and the anti-graft agency.
According to her, she was never allowed to defend herself before her properties were confiscated.
She also accused the EFCC of misrepresenting and suppressing material facts to mislead the court into granting forfeiture orders.
“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,” Alison-Madueke”s application stated.
Her application has been countered by the EFCC.
The agency’s litigation officer in her case, Oyakhilome Ekienabor, in a counter-affidavit, insisted that due process was followed and that the final forfeiture orders remain valid in her case.
“The forfeited properties were disposed of in accordance with the due process of law,” the EFCC’s legal counsel stated.
Alison-Madueke’s legal counsel sought more time from the court to respond to the EFCC’s counter-affidavit.
The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the case to March 27 for further hearing.
admin
Agency News
Opinion
