Diezani Allison-Madueke loses $4.760m properties to FG

EMBATTLED former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke on Wednesday lost two penthouses valued at $4.760m, allegedly linked her to the Federal Government.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos ordered that the two properties: Penthouse 21, building 5, Block C, 11th floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate) also in Ikoyi, Lagos, be forfeited to the government.

Recall that the judge had on December 5, 2017, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the properties after hearing an exparte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The anti-graft agency listed Mrs Alison-Madueke, Donald Amagbo, Schillenburg LLC, and Sequoyah Property Limited, as respondents in the matter.

Apart from the forfeiture order, EFCC also prayed the court for an order prohibiting any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the said assets/properties, as they were suspected to proceed of unlawful activity.

The Commission further urged the court to make an order authorising it to appoint a competent person(s)/ firms to manage the said properties.

The judge granted the order as prayed on Wednesday following no objection to the application from the listed respondents.

While moving the application, the EFCC counsel, Anslem Ozioko had informed the court that the application was brought pursuant to sections 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud-related offences Act number 14, 2006, and section 44(2)(b) and(k) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

The anti-graft agency also an affidavit attached to the suit and deposed to by one of its investigators, Abdulrasheed Bawa, averred that during investigation into the ownership of the two properties, YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited, that the firm’s Deputy Managing Director, one Mr Fadi Basbous, volunteered extra-judicial statement, wherein he stated that the two properties were sold at $3.570 million, and $1.194 million, and they are owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited, and Schillenburg LLC.

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Bawa also stated that the payment for the Penthouse 22, Block B, 8, Gerrard road, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, 11 floors, Plot1, Zone N, FGN layout, Banana Island, Ikoyi, were made by Mrs Angela Jide-Jones, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, respectively.

He further claimed that the said Mrs Angela Jide-Jone, is the wife of Jide Omokore, while the said Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, is registered and promoted by Jide Omokore.

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Bawa further maintained that Jide Omokore paid for the properties through his wife, Angela, and one of his companies, and directed the developers (seller) of the properties to sign the agreements with Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Properties Limited, both of which are linked to Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.