PUNCH
The former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday, urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to retrieve her seized assets from their buyers.
The former minister specifically requested that the court direct the anti-graft agency to recover the seized properties from the individuals or entities to whom they were sold.
Alison-Madueke made this request through an amended application filed on her behalf by her lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
She sought an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice, which served as the basis for the public auction of her assets.
She further asked the court to declare the public auction conducted by the EFCC as a violation of statutory provisions, including the EFCC Act of 2004 and the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act of 2022.
Alison-Madueke argued that the auction breached her right to a fair hearing as guaranteed under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Additionally, she sought an order restraining the EFCC from disposing of her properties as listed in the public notice and asked the court to vacate the notice issued by the EFCC, which was based on various judgments and orders in favor of the agency.
She contended that the final forfeiture orders issued against her properties violated her proprietary rights due to a lack of jurisdiction and denial of a fair hearing.
The former minister also requested an extension of time to seek the court’s leave to vacate, discharge, or set aside the public notice issued by the EFCC.
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