The permanent forfeiture of 58 houses linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has been ordered by the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka made the permanent forfeiture order in favour of the Federal Government.
The judge made the order pursuant to an application filed before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Diezani’s houses, located in Lagos and Port Harcourt, were said to have been acquired by the ex-minister between 2011 and 2013 using front companies.
The EFCC claimed that Diezani paid $21,982,224 for the properties, adding that it believed that the funds were proceeds of crime.
The anti-graft agency had on August 22, 2017 obtained an interim order forfeiting the properties temporarily.
Justice Anka, who made the order, had directed the EFCC to publish it in a national daily to give anyone interested in the properties, the opportunity to come before him to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
At the Wednesday’s proceedings, the EFCC lawyer, Mr. Anselem Ozioko, told Justice Anka that the court order had been complied with.
He said the respondents were also served with a motion on notice, adding that proof of service was before the court.
