A Federal Top Court docket in Abuja presided over by means of Justice Inyang Ekwo, has adjourned the listening to of a movement filed by means of former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, searching for to amend the originating procedure in her ongoing criminal struggle with the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee.
The listening to has been rescheduled for February 17, 2025.
Alison-Madueke, via her suggest, Trainer Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed the swimsuit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, inquiring for the courtroom to increase the occasion to use for an form to put aside the EFCC’s population realize issued for the sale of her property.
In her utility, Alison-Madueke argued that the orders for the forfeiture of her property have been made with out jurisdiction, claiming she used to be denied a good listening to within the complaints that ended in the forfeiture orders. She sought 5 orders from the courtroom, together with the annulment of the EFCC’s population realize at the asset sale.
The previous minister contended that the numerous courtroom orders issued in preference of the EFCC violated her constitutional proper to a good listening to, as enshrined in Category 36 (1) of the 1999 Charter. She maintained that she used to be by no means served with the rate sheet, evidence of proof, or any summons in regards to the fees in opposition to her.
“The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she argued.
She additional claimed that she used to be neither served with the rate sheet, evidence of proof, nor any summons in regards to the prison fees pending in opposition to her prior to the courtroom.
Alison-Madueke additionally argued that the courts were misled into granting forfeiture orders because of the suppression or non-disclosure of important knowledge. She additional insisted that the orders have been made in violation of her proper to feature, as assured by means of the Charter.
In reaction, the EFCC, represented by means of Detective Rufai Zaki, advised the courtroom to brush aside Alison-Madueke’s utility.
Zaki, a member of the EFCC’s investigative staff at the former minister’s alleged involvement in prison conspiracy, legit corruption, and cash laundering, maintained that Alison-Madueke were rightfully charged prior to the courtroom.
He argued that the applying for ultimate forfeiture of Alison-Madueke’s property were correctly instituted and carried out, with all criminal necessities adopted.
He asserted that the houses were duly disposed of following the courtroom’s form, which were made in 2017 and used to be now not overturned on attraction.
The EFCC additionally famous that its efforts to public sale the seized property, believed to incorporate Alison-Madueke’s houses, have been in sequence with the courtroom’s form. The public sale procedure started on January 9, 2023, as a part of the company’s broader efforts to recuperate the proceeds of crime.
All through the complaints on Thursday, Alison-Madueke’s attorney, Godwin Iyinbor, knowledgeable the courtroom that they meant to amend their utility difficult the overall forfeiture of the seized property.
Alternatively, disagree criminal consultant from the EFCC used to be found in courtroom.
Justice Ekwo, upon affirmation that the EFCC had served the essential paperwork at the applicant’s suggest, adjourned the topic to February 17, 2025, for the listening to of the movement to amend the originating summons.